DUBAI - Four people were killed in a light plane crash late Sunday in Al Ain, the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Gulf nation's aviation authority said Monday.

The accident occurred when the plane, a Grumman 21T en rout to Saudi Arabia, crashed at Al Ain airport, the state news agency WAM reported, citing a statement of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GCAA).

The plane departed from Al Ain International Airport for the Saudi capital of Riyadh at 8:07 pm (1607 GMT), the statement said, adding that shortly after its liftoff, it veered to the left and crashed on the taxiway.

"The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire," the statement said.

The GCAA said an investigation team has been sent to the scene to probe into the cause of the accident.

Al Ain, the capital of Abu Dhabi emirate's mainland Eastern Region, is also known as the Garden City due to its greenery which attracts many tourists every year.