The incident occurred off the coast near Tobruk, where the vessel had been attempting to carry migrants toward Europe before overturning. Six bodies were recovered on Saturday after washing ashore, according to local security officials.

A total of 31 people were still unaccounted for, with search operations ongoing, the IOM said. The survivors were among a group believed to include migrants from Egypt and Sudan, officials added.

Libya remains a major transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with many undertaking perilous journeys across both desert and the Mediterranean Sea to escape conflict, instability and economic hardship.

According to United Nations data, more than 900,000 migrants are currently present across Libya’s municipalities, underscoring the scale of migration flows through the country.

The defence ministry said earlier that the aircraft went down after experiencing a technical failure while carrying out “routine duty,” without providing further details on the nature of the malfunction or the mission profile.

Authorities said rescue teams were continuing efforts to locate the final missing individual, following the recovery of six bodies from the crash site. No timeline was given for the completion of the search operation.

Officials did not disclose the identities or nationalities of those on board, nor did they specify whether the helicopter was military or civilian-operated.investigation into cause underwayThe incident is under investigation, with authorities expected to examine technical and operational factors behind the crash.

No additional information was released regarding weather conditions or flight data at the time of the crash.

Helicopter accidents in maritime zones typically involve coordinated responses from defence and interior agencies, particularly in cases involving offshore operations or patrol duties.