Airbus has confirmed that an Airbus flying from Johannesburg crashed in Tripoli, Libya, on Wednesday morning, but had no further word on casualties.
“Airbus regrets to confirm that an Airbus A330-200 operated by Afriqiyah Airways was involved in an accident in Tripoli, Libya, early today, Wednesday May 12. The aircraft was arriving from Johannesburg, South Africa.”
It was providing full technical assistance to the authorities responsible for the investigation.
“The concerns and sympathy of the Airbus employees go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident of Afriqiyah Airways aircraft.”
South Africa’s Department of International Relations said that it and South Africa’s civil aviation authorities were in contact with Libyan officials following the crash.
According to agencies, only one child survived out of the 104 people on board.
“We know that the plane departed from Johannesburg to Libya and we are liaising with both the South African and Libyan civil aviation authorities. They will keep us informed,” said spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota.
She said that people with relatives or associates on board can contact 012 351 1000 and ask for the consular section at the Department of International Relations.
South Africa is checking if any of its nationals were on the flight, the Foreign Ministry said.
“We are still trying to establish whether there were any South Africans” on board, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saul Molobi said.
“We have established consular emergency response and request South Africans who had relatives aboard that plane to call us so that we able to assist with repatriation of the remains and helping them get visas to Tripoli as soon as possible.”
‘No information’
The airline, Afriqiyah Airways, posted a short notice on its website saying “flight 8U771 had an accident during landing at Tripoli International airport at [6am Tripoli time] today ,Wednesday May 12”.
“At this moment we have no information concerning possible casualties or survivors. Our information is that there were 93 passenger[s] and 11 crew aboard. The competent authorities are conducting the search-and-rescue mission.”
The telephone lines for the offices of the local representatives were jammed with people seeking information, and when the South African Press Association’s call finally got through, a receptionist, who did not want to be named, said all they knew was that the plane crashed as it was coming in to land.
The airline prides itself on linking African countries, and working against what it says is a monopoly imposed by international carriers over mail and air cargo operations on the continent.
It describes its fleet as a “very modern all Airbus fleet”. It started its operations with five leased planes and then signed a contract with the Airbus Company during the Paris Flight Exhibition in 2007 for the purchase of 11 new planes.
“Afriqiyah has played a key role in the development of Libyan and African aviation,” it said. — Sapa, AFP