Rocket Attack on Civilian Plane And Fuel Depot at Libya’s Mitiga Airport

Reported by Al Jazeera, a new rocket attack has been carried out on Mitiga International Airport in the capital, Tripoli in Libya.

It is understood that a civilian plane belonging to Libyan Airlines was hit as a result.

The only working airport in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, has diverted flights after it came under rocket fire.

Libyan Arab Airlines Airbus A320 (5A-LAQ) and A330-200 (5A-LAU) were seriously damaged by a mortar attack of the Libyan National Army at Tripolis-Mitiga Airport(HLLT). Both aircraft were stored inactive at the time. "LAQ" is likely a write-off. @lpc_ly @Lyobserver pic.twitter.com/pUkCmvd0dT

— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) May 9, 2020

The rocket attack forced a Libyan Airlines flight from Alexandria in Egypt to divert to Misrata, some 200km (120 miles) east of the capital.

Other flights were also diverted and a source told Agence France-Presse that plans were under way to move other planes at Tripoli to Misrata.

Libyan Airlines is the only operator running internal flights and international ones, to a limited number of countries. It is barred from EU airports on security grounds.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said that four storage fuel tanks of the Brega Oil Marketing Company were set ablaze; while six others were damaged in a barrage of missile attacks on Mitiga Airports, causing havoc in the area.

The aviation fuel depot at Mitiga Airport was destroyed and a Libyan Airlines plane was damaged in warlord Haftar’s systematic rocket attacks on Saturday pic.twitter.com/pTnxR3soPT

— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) May 9, 2020

The NOC confirmed that an aircraft fuel supply system was damaged, along with a fuel supply vehicle which took a direct hit.

Feature image: Twitter JACDEC