Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday sent a condolence message to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after a deadly airplane crash at Tripoli International Airport.

Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and the people and in his personal name, conveyed to Gaddafi and through Gaddafi his sincere regards to the families of those killed and the injured and profound condolences for the victims.

At least 96 people were killed in the crash of a Libyan Afriqiyah Airways plane with 104 people aboard as it attempted to land at Tripoli's airport early Wednesday.