Thaindian News

TRIPOLI (BNO NEWS) — Around 100 people were killed after an Afriqiyah Airways passenger plane from South Africa crashed in the Libyan capital on early Wednesday, officials said. At least one passenger survived.

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 8U0771, an Airbus A330, crash-landed around 6 a.m. local time on its final approach to Tripoli International Airport. It departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa at around 9.37 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. Libyan Transport Minister Mohammed Ali Zidan said that victims included nationals from the Netherlands, Libya, UK, Germany, Finland, Zimbabwe, Philippines, South Africa and France.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the surviving child had a Dutch nationality. SOS International confirmed that a total of 62 Dutch citizens were on board the plane when it crashed. Of those, 24 had booked their flight through Kras.nl.

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of an Irish citizen. “The Irish Ambassador to Libya is in close contact with the authorities in Libya in relation to the tragic loss of this flight,” the Ministry said.

“It is now clear that one of the victims was a British National. We are continuing urgently to clarify whether any other British nationals were on the flight,” said UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

According to a spokesperson for Airports Company South Africa, seven passengers were booked to connect to London, 32 to Brussels, 42 to Dusseldorf, and one to Paris.

“Afriqiyah Airways is working together with the South African immigration and airport Authorities to determine the exact identities and nationalities of the passengers,” the airline said in a statement.

“As soon as those are available, Afriqiyah Airways will work with the competent agencies concerned to inform the next of kin.”

Airbush said th aircraft, registered as 5A-ONG, was Manufacturer Serial Number 1024, delivered from the production line in September 2009. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 1600 flight hours in some 420 flights.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft crashed short of the runway threshold during approach,” Airbus said.

The Airbus A330-200 is a widebody, twin-engine aircraft, which typically carries 253 passengers in a three-class, twin-aisle cabin on medium to long range routes of up to 7,250 nautical miles (13,400km).

The A330-200 was first delivered in April 1998.