A cargo plane broke in two during takeoff at Brussels Zaventem airport on Sunday. No casualties have been reported.

An airport spokeswoman said the four-engine Boeing 747, which belongs to Kalita Air, had five people on board; and the crash had not disrupted air traffic at the airport.

Jan Van der Cruysse is an official from the airport.

"The aircraft has passed beyond the length of the runway and has come to a rest here behind us. There were five people on board, five crew members, none of them were badly hurt. There were no passengers on board."

Francis Vermeiren, mayor of the nearby town of Zaventem, confirmed the crash, but denied that the plane was on fire after crack.

The mayor said the pilot reported large noise while trying to take off from the runway. It was still unclear what's the cause of the crack and what goods the Bahrain-bound flight was carrying.

Airport authorities said the fire brigade were on the scene and an emergency plan was being implemented.

The accident happened on a runway close to a rail line and rail services to the airport have been suspended as a precaution measure.