In a tragic development that has sent shockwaves through Libya, the nation's army chief, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, has been killed in a plane crash. The incident occurred on Tuesday as the military delegation was returning to Tripoli following an official visit to Turkey.
Official Confirmation and Details of the Tragedy
Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah confirmed the devastating news, stating that Lt Gen Al-Haddad died alongside four other high-ranking officials in what he described as a tragic accident. The group was flying home from Ankara when their aircraft met with disaster.
The prime minister expressed profound sorrow in an official statement. "With great sadness and sorrow, we have received the news of the death of Lt Gen Al-Haddad and his companions," al-Dbeibah said. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized that this loss represents a significant tragedy for both Libya and its military institution.
Victims and the Final Flight
The other victims on the ill-fated flight have been identified as:
- Major General Al-Fitouri Ghreibel, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces
- Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatioui, Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority
- Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the army chief
- Media office photographer Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub
The aircraft involved was a Falcon 50 business jet that departed from Ankara Esenboga Airport at approximately 8:10 pm local time. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that contact with the plane was lost at 8:52 pm after it sent an emergency landing notification. The notification came from an area near the Haymana district, located about 50 miles southwest of the Turkish capital.
Search, Recovery, and Investigation
Turkish military teams swiftly located the wreckage in a remote area approximately two kilometres south of Kesikkavak village in Haymana. According to reports from Turkish broadcaster CNNTurk, the jet had declared an electrical emergency and requested permission to return to the airport before all communication ceased.
The aircraft had a crew of three, all of whom were French nationals, adding an international dimension to the tragedy. In response, Turkey's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that a comprehensive investigation has been launched. Authorities have pledged to examine all aspects of the incident with great care to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lt Gen Al-Haddad had been formally received in Ankara with a full military ceremony as an official guest of the state. His visit included high-level talks with Turkish Chief of the General Staff, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, underscoring the importance of the diplomatic and military ties between the two nations.
This catastrophic event not only claims the lives of key Libyan military figures but also casts a shadow over the ongoing political and security dynamics in the region. The loss of such senior leadership is expected to have significant repercussions for Libya's fragile military structure.
