Fighter jet crash kills 5 in Libya

2014-09-04 08:49

Cairo - A Libyan security official says a military jet has crashed in the country's eastern city of Tobruk, killing the pilot and four other people.

Libyan official said the plane crashed because of a technical problem. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The crash came amid fierce clashes in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi between Islamist militiamen and forces loyal to General Khalifa Hifter.

A video, posted by a Libyan civilian who said he fights against Hifter, showed what he said was the jet crash and explosion.

The video, which was consistent with independent AP reporting and was checked against known locations and events, shows a black plume of smoke rising above Tobruk.

The poster, a Facebook account holder called "One Zero", refused to reveal his identity. The video was shot by one of "One Zero's" friends in Tobruk.