Two pilots have died after their light aircraft crashed at the airport in the Egyptian coastal resort of Hurghada, a spokesman for the civil aviation ministry has said.

The pilots had suffered multiple injuries, including "fractures to the skull", and died shortly after being admitted to hospital, the state-owned al-Ahram news site reported.

The two-seater private tour plane, registered to Airman Sky Sports, was on a test flight when it crashed, civil aviation ministry spokesman Bassem Abdel Karim is quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.