Citation Latitude destroyed in Misrata landing accident; three aboard survive

A Cessna 680A Citation Latitude ran off the runway while landing at Misrata International Airport in Libya on Monday, 14 September, and was destroyed by fire. All three occupants survived, according to preliminary reports.

The jet, registered TC-AKF, was flying a positioning leg from Istanbul Atatürk Airport with no passengers on board, carrying two pilots and one cabin crew member. According to reports, it had a technical problem with one of its engines and was attempting an emergency landing when it left the runway and caught fire.

Airport fire crews extinguished the blaze and pulled the three occupants from the wreckage. They were said to have escaped without serious injuries.

Flights at Misrata International Airport were halted for a time while emergency teams cleared the wreckage and checked that air traffic could resume safely. The airport handles international services for the city and the surrounding region.

The aircraft is said to be operated by BKNJET Aviation, and Turkish media reports have linked it to Turkish businessman Hamdi Akın. The cause of the accident has not been established and remains under investigation.