Alwaght- A Libyan military plane crashed during takeoff on Sunday, killing five people including three crewmembers.
The crash happened as the cargo plane departed from an airport near the El Sharara oil field, one of the largest oil fields in the country, according to local media.
The aircraft reportedly exploded after hitting the ground. An investigation into the crash has been launched.
Officials say the plane was on a mission to transport goods and supplies to the field workers. According to preliminary information, only a crew consisting of a pilot and assistants were on board," the official added.
Al-Sharara is the largest oil field in Libya, producing 270,000 barrels of oil per day, more than a quarter of Libya's daily oil production.
The field is operated by the Libyan State-owned National Oil Corporation in partnership with a consortium of Repsol, Total and OMV.
There was no comment from the UN-backed unity government, the forces of which control El Sharara oilfield, on the crash.
Libyan authorities use planes to transport supplies to the oilfield over ongoing fighting between rival groups in the southern city of Obari.
Libya has remained dogged by chaos and political uncertainty since 2011, after US-led military alliance, NATO, intervened during a popular uprising that led to the ouster and death of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.
The ensuing power vacuum swiftly led to the emergence of several competing seats of government -- including one in Tobruk and another in capital Tripoli -- and a plethora of heavily-armed militia groups.
