Child escapes airliner crash

A child was among the handful of survivors from a Libyan airliner crash that killed more than 100 people today.

The head of the European Parliament said the eight-year old’s escape was “truly a miracle”.

Jerzy Buzek said he had been told that about 100 people on board perished in the accident at Tripoli airport.

The Airbus A330 was arriving from Johannesburg, South Africa, when it crashed on landing at around 6am.

Libyan airline Afriqiyah said: “At this moment, we have no information concerning possible casualties or survivors.

“Our information is that there were 93 passengers and 11 crew aboard. The competent authorities are conducting the search and rescue mission.”

Libya's transport minister Mohammed Ali Zaidan later said 96 bodies were taken from the wreckage.