Misrata, Libya, 14 September 2026: A Cessna Citation Latitude veered off the runway while landing at Misrata International Airport. The aircraft caught fire and was severely damaged. All three crew members on board were able to leave the aircraft safely. No passengers were on board.
The aircraft, a Cessna 680A Citation Latitude registered as TC-AKF, was operated by the private company BikiniJet. It departed from Istanbul Atatürk Airport at around 5:45 a.m. and was flying to Misrata without passengers. The flight was a positioning flight, meaning that the aircraft was flying to Libya to pick up passengers.
During the landing at Misrata, the aircraft left the runway and rolled on an unpaved area parallel to the runway for a few meters, then returned on the runway, and a fire then broke out, causing major damage to the aircraft. Emergency and firefighting teams responded to the incident and helped the three crew members leave the aircraft. The Libyan Ministry of Transport reported that there were no fatalities among the crew.
Investigation into the incident
The exact cause of the runway excursion has not yet been fully established. Initial reports gave different possible explanations. Some reports mentioned a possible technical problem with one of the engines, while other reports described the event as an emergency landing. Libyan authorities had not initially confirmed a technical cause.
Following the incident, Libyan investigators examined the aircraft wreckage, air traffic control data, and weather information. They also questioned technical staff involved in the landing operation. These steps are part of the ongoing investigation into why the aircraft left the runway.
The aircraft’s black boxes have been recovered following the incident at Misrata Airport. Investigators will examine the recorded flight data and cockpit audio to establish a detailed timeline of the aircraft’s final moments before it veered off the runway. The information could provide important evidence about the aircraft’s speed, altitude, engine performance, and crew actions during the landing.
On September 16, Libya’s Public Prosecution announced that the pilot and co-pilot had been placed in pre-trial detention. According to the prosecutors, investigators had found evidence suggesting that the two pilots operated the aircraft while intoxicated.
However, these allegations have been disputed by Bikinijet. The company said that it had not received a confirmed document or test result proving that the pilots had been under the influence of alcohol.
No passengers on board
The absence of passengers was an important factor in the outcome of the incident. The aircraft was travelling from Istanbul to Misrata specifically to collect passengers, therefore only the two pilots and one cabin crew member were on board. All three survived the runway excursion and subsequent fire.
The aircraft itself was destroyed by the fire. The investigation will now focus on the events leading up to the landing and the reasons why the Cessna left the runway.
At present, the final cause of the incident has not been officially established. A final conclusion will depend on the results of the ongoing investigation and the analysis of the recovered flight recorders.
