Thaindian News

TRIPOLI (BNO NEWS) — At least dozens of people were believed to have been killed after an Afriqiyah Airways passenger plane from South Africa crashed in the Libyan capital on early Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for Afriqiyah Airways confirmed that flight 8U0771, an Airbus A330, crash-landed around 6 a.m. local time during its final approach to Tripoli International Airport. The aircraft had departed an airport in Johannesburg, South Africa at 9.30 p.m. local time on Tuesday and was scheduled to land in Tripoli at 6.20 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

The airline said the plane was carrying a total of 93 passengers and 11 crew members, but their nationalities were not immediately released. Britain’s Foreign Office said it was ‘urgently investigating’ reports that British nationals were on board. “A consular team from the British Embassy are on their way to the airport,” a spokesperson said. “Consular staff in Tripoli are urgently seeking further details.”

According to unconfirmed reports from nu.nl, a popular Dutch news website, one Dutch child had survived the crash.

“The competent authorities are conducting the search and rescue mission,” the airline said in a statement. Al Arabiya television reported that at least 105 people had been killed, but the airline was not able to confirm that.

The plane was scheduled to continue on a flight to London’s Gatwick Airport after a brief stop.