Libyan jihadist turned official among 11 killed in plane crash in Tunisia
A medical plane carrying a former jihadist turned member of Libya's first transitional government crashed south of Tunis early yesterday, killing all 11 on board, Tunisian and Libyan officials said.
A medical plane carrying a former jihadist turned member of Libya's first transitional government crashed south of Tunis early yesterday, killing all 11 on board, Tunisian and Libyan officials said.
The aircraft came down in a field on the edge of Nianou village, 40 kilometres from the capital, without hitting any houses, and burst into flames.
The Libyan flag was still visible on the tail plane amid the charred wreckage, which belonged to the Libyan air force.
The plane was carrying three doctors, two patients and six crew members, emergency services spokesman Mongi El Kadhi said.
One of the patients was Meftah al-Mabrouk Issa al-Dhawadi, who was being transported to Tunis from a military airfield near Tripoli for medical treatment, the Libyan government said.
Another unidentified patient was on the plane, according to the statement.
Dhawadi was a leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) - a now disbanded movement with alleged links to al-Qaeda that joined the 2011 Nato-backed uprising that overthrew dictator Muammar Gaddafi.