Ducth boy who miraculously survived Libyan plane crash is doing well in hospital, doctors say

“Miracle” boy who survived Libya crash doing well

TRIPOLI, Libya — Doctors say the Dutch boy who miraculously survived a plane crash that killed 103 people in the Libyan capital is in satisfactory condition after surgery on his shattered legs.

Dr. Hameeda al-Saheli, the head of the pediatric unit at the Libyan hospital where the boy was treated, said Thursday that he is breathing normally and his vital organs are intact.

The official Libyan news agency has identified the survivor as 10-year-old Ruben van Ashout.

But a Dutch newspaper said the boy is in all likelihood 9-year-old Ruben van Assouw. His grandmother, An van de Sande, told the newspaper that Ruben was in South Africa with his brother and parents.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane crashed Wednesday as it approached the runway at the Tripoli airport.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Doctors say the Dutch boy who miraculously survived a plane crash that killed 103 people in the Libyan capital is in satisfactory condition after surgery on his shattered legs.

Dr. Hameeda al-Saheli, the head of the pediatric unit at the Libyan hospital where the boy was treated, said Thursday that the boy, is breathing normally and his vital organs are intact.

The official Libyan news agency has identified the survivor as 10-year-old Ruben van Ashout.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus 330-200 crashed Wednesday as it approached the runway at the Tripoli airport after a seven-hour flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Most of the 103 victims were Dutch, returning home after vacationing in South Africa.