No sign of mechanical failure in Afriqiyah crash

Libyan air crash investigators say that there is no evidence so far that mechanical failure caused the crash of the new Airbus A330 that crashed on approach to Tripoli Airport on May 12.

The aircraft on route from South Africa crashed killing 103 people with just one survivor - a nine-year-old Dutch boy.

News agency Reuters reported last night that the Libyan Commission investigating the crash said, "There is no sign indicating a technical failure in the plane before the incident, according to data recovered up until now from the two black boxes."

Dhaw told Reuters the investigation was continuing into why the almost new aircraft crashed, and it could be some time before his commission was ready to present its final conclusions. The commission of investigation also ruled out an explosion or fire on board the plane before the crash and said there was no evidence it was caused by an act of terrorism.

According to the news agency, the commission also said there was no evidence a lack of fuel was a factor, and that there was nothing to indicate that the pilot had radioed the control tower before the crash to request technical or medical assistance. The statement added: "The crew was qualified to work on this type of aircraft. It had operated more than one flight on this route and authorisations for the crew were valid."