Plane Crushes at Tripoli Airport, 104 Passengers on Board, 10-year old Boy Survives
Plane Crushes at Tripoli Airport, 104 Passengers on Board, 10-year Old Boy Survives
12/05/2010 15:25:00
Photo: The ill fated Afriqiyah Airways plane’s engine at the site of the crash as rescue and security people are sifting the debris.
Mohammed Zaidan, Secretary of Transportation, officially announced to reporters, in Tripoli today at 10:40, the crash of an airplane belongs to Afriqiyah Airways as it was landing at Tripoli International Airport.
104 people were on board, including 93 passengers and 11 crew.
One ten-year old boy of Dutch nationality survived the crash. He was first taken to the nearest hospital, Sabia'a Hospital, 30 kms southeast of Tripoli. Airline sources said he is in stable state and recovering.
The Tripoli Post has learned that the boy is now being operated on at Al-Khadhra Hospital in Tripoli.
Sources told The Tripoli Post the boy has a broken leg and other injuries.
The tragic incident occurred at 6:00 a.m. local time.
The plane crashed as it was landing at 200 meters before the fence that separates the airport runway from the premises outside the airport limits. A source told The Tripoli Post that the plane crashed within less than five seconds flying from the runway.
Libya rescue teams were immediately at the scene of the accident. 95 victims were taken to hospitals in Tripoli.
Mr. Zaidan said a number of victims’ bodies were dismembered into pieces. He also said the authorities had found the two black boxes of the plane.
A committee was established to investigate the causes of the crash headed by the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.