A helicopter carrying members of Libya's Tripoli-based Islamist government was shot down Tuesday, killing at least nine.
It was unclear how many people were aboard the aircraft, but officials said they didn't expect to find any survivors.
The helicopter took off from Tripoli and crashed into the sea west of Almaya.
The Islamists blamed the rival government based in Tobruk for shooting down the helicopter. Tobruk officials denied any responsibility.
Libya is split between the Islamist administration that seized Tripoli and the internationally recognized parliament that fled east to Tobruk. U.N. efforts to mediate a unity government have failed.
Libya has been in chaos and political uncertainty since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.