Libya’s Military Chief, Seven Others Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey

Libya’s top military commander and seven other people were killed after a private jet crashed shortly after taking off from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, officials from both countries confirmed on Tuesday. The aircraft, which was returning to Libya following high-level defence talks, reportedly suffered a technical malfunction mid-flight, leading to the fatal accident.

Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, during a meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler in Ankara, shortly before the fatal plane crash.

The crash claimed the life of General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, along with four senior military officers and three crew members. Libyan authorities said all eight people on board were killed instantly when the plane went down in a rural area south of Ankara.

According to Turkish officials, the aircraft, a Falcon 50-type business jet took off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at around 8:30 p.m. local time. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the jet approximately 30 to 40 minutes into the flight, after the crew reported an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing.

Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s presidential communications office, said the aircraft alerted air traffic control about a technical problem and was redirected back toward Esenboga Airport. Emergency preparations were made for the landing, but the jet disappeared from radar while descending near the Haymana district, roughly 70 kilometres south of Ankara.

Security camera footage broadcast on Turkish television later showed a sudden flash lighting up the night sky in the area, suggesting an explosion at the time of impact. Wreckage from the aircraft was subsequently located near the village of Kesikkavak.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths in a statement posted on Facebook, describing the incident as a “tragic accident” and a “great loss” for the country. He paid tribute to Gen. al-Haddad and the other officers, noting their roles in efforts to rebuild and unify Libya’s fractured military institutions.

Al-Haddad was a key figure in western Libya and played a central role in United Nations-backed initiatives aimed at reuniting Libya’s divided armed forces. Since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, Libya’s military and political institutions have remained deeply fragmented, with rival administrations operating in the east and west of the country.

The other officers killed in the crash were identified as Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces; Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, who led the military manufacturing authority; Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an adviser to the chief of staff; and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer attached to the chief of staff’s office. The identities of the three crew members were not immediately released.

The Libyan delegation had been in Ankara for defence meetings aimed at strengthening military cooperation between Libya and Turkey. During the visit, al-Haddad met with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and other senior officials.

Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the aircraft had issued an emergency landing signal shortly before contact was lost. Ankara’s airport was temporarily closed following the crash, and several incoming flights were diverted as emergency services searched the area.

Turkey’s Justice Ministry announced that four prosecutors have been appointed to investigate the incident, a standard procedure in aviation accidents. Libyan authorities also said they would dispatch a team to Ankara to cooperate with Turkish investigators and participate in the inquiry.

The crash occurred just one day after Turkey’s parliament voted to extend the mandate of Turkish troops deployed in Libya by two years. Turkey has maintained a military presence in Libya since 2019 under a security agreement with the Tripoli-based government and has recently taken steps to improve relations with Libya’s eastern-based authorities as well.

As investigations continue, both Libyan and Turkish officials said they would provide further updates once more information becomes available.