Libyan prosecutors ordered the pre-trial detention of a German captain and a Turkish co-pilot after a brand-new Cessna Citation Latitude veered off the runway at Misrata International Airport and erupted in flames. The incident occurred on September 14, 2026, when the 2026-built aircraft, flying empty from Istanbul to pick up VIP passengers, failed to stay on the tarmac during landing. No one was killed, but the fire consumed most of the fuselage, leaving only the cockpit structure standing.
Investigators determined that both pilots were intoxicated during the flight. They gathered concrete evidence showing the crew was under the influence of alcohol, which they deemed a severe hazard to ground personnel and surrounding airspace. The flight attendant on board also survived without reported injuries. Local authorities briefly halted operations at the airport to clear the burning wreckage from the runway.
BKNJET Aviation Co., the Turkish charter operator managing the jet, pushed back against the accusations. The company stated it has not received any official documentation or verified test results confirming alcohol use. "No verified result or document indicating any such finding regarding alcohol has been received by us," the operator said, as quoted in reports from Al-Ahrar TV and the New York Post.
The investigation remains active, with authorities focusing on the specific sequence of events that led to the crash. The detention of the pilots signals that Libyan courts will likely scrutinize the integrity of the flight crew and the operator's safety protocols in the coming weeks.