Accident: Air Libya YK40 and Air Libya YK40 at Benghazi probably between Feb 15th 2011 and Mar 17th 2011, aircraft damaged beyond repair

An Air Libya Yakovlev Yak-40, registration still unknown, has been destroyed in unknown circumstances probably between Feb 15th 2011 and Mar 17th 2011, while parked at Benghazi Airport (Libya).

Another Air Libya Yakovlev Yak-40, registration 5A-DKG, was also substantially damaged (beyond repair) due to a fire that obviously broke out inside the aircraft in the very forward cabin and the cockpit area probably between Feb 15th 2011 and Mar 17th 2011 while parked at Benghazi Airport.

Egypt's foreign minister had reported on Feb 22nd 2011, that both runways of Benghazi Airport were destroyed as result of violence that had occurred between anti-government protesters and Libya's government forces. The uprising had started on Feb 15th 2011, Air Libya's fleet has been grounded since Feb 19th.

On March 17th Agence France Presse (AFP) released two pictures taken on Mar 17th 2011 at Benghazi Airport without stating when and how those aircraft were damaged.

An inquiry by The Aviation Herald to Air Libya is pending.

Recognizeable by the left hand freight door visible on the destroyed aircraft in the front the airplane's registration is either 5A-DKH or 5A-DKM according to the fleet list by ATDB.

The damaged aircraft (Photos: AFP):