Kalitta Air 747-200F crashed over the weekend as it attempted to take-off from Brussels en route to Bahrain, coming to a stop beyond the end of the runway and splitting into at least two pieces.

Although reports vary, it does not appear that the aircraft ever was fully airborne. Its fuselage split in the middle and it likely will be written off.

All five crew escaped and four were hospitalized with what were described by local officials as minor injuries.

The pilots reported hearing loud noises while attempting to take-off but the cause of the crash is undetermined as yet.

Local officials said a much larger catastrophe was narrowly averted as the 747-200F came to a stop just 10 m. short of a rail line and only hundreds of meters from a residential neighborhood.

Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network said the freighter was carrying 76 tonnes of cargo.

Kalitta Air is an all-747F operator based in Michigan. It operates 18 aircraft, according to its website.