In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves through Libya, the nation's most senior military commander and a high-level defence delegation were killed when their private jet crashed shortly after take-off from Turkey's capital, Ankara. Turkish and Libyan officials confirmed on Tuesday that all eight people on board perished.
Senior Libyan Military Leadership Among the Dead
The crash claimed the life of Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Libyan army’s chief of general staff. He was accompanied by four other senior officers and three crew members. The delegation was returning home after attending high-level defence talks in Ankara.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths, labelling the event a "tragic accident." In an official statement, he expressed profound grief, saying, "This great tragedy is a great loss for the nation, the military establishment, and all the people. We have lost men who served their country with sincerity and dedication."
Emergency Landing Request Preceded Crash
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya provided a timeline of the tragic event. The Dassault Falcon 50 jet took off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 8:10 pm local time (17:10 GMT) en route to Tripoli. Approximately 40 minutes later, radio contact was lost.
Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s presidential communications office, revealed crucial details. The aircraft notified air traffic control of an electrical fault and sought permission for an emergency landing. While being redirected back to Esenboga Airport, the jet disappeared from radar during its descent.
The wreckage was later discovered near Kesikkavak village in Ankara’s Haymana district, roughly 70 kilometres south of the capital. Security camera footage broadcast on Turkish television showed the night sky suddenly illuminated by what appeared to be an explosion.
Investigation Launched, Sabotage Ruled Out
Turkish authorities were quick to initiate a probe. Ankara's chief prosecutor’s office launched a formal investigation, with multiple prosecutors assigned to the case. Significantly, early findings have ruled out any sabotage.
A Turkish official told Al Jazeera that initial reports point to a technical failure as the preliminary cause. The aircraft was a leased Maltese jet, and Libyan officials stated they did not yet have sufficient information regarding its ownership or technical history.
The other Libyan victims identified alongside General al-Haddad were:
- Al-Fitouri Gharibil, head of Libya’s ground forces
- Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, leader of the Military Manufacturing Authority
- Muhammad Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the chief of staff
- Muhammad Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, attached to the chief of staff’s office
The identities of the three crew members were not immediately disclosed.
National Mourning and a Pivotal Figure Lost
The UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli announced three days of official mourning. Flags at state institutions will fly at half-mast, and official ceremonies have been suspended. Libya will also dispatch an investigative team to Ankara to collaborate with Turkish authorities.
The death of Mohammed al-Haddad represents a severe blow to Libya's fragile unity efforts. Appointed chief of general staff in August 2020, he was the most senior military commander in western Libya and played a central role in UN-brokered attempts to reunify the country's fractured military institutions.
Al Jazeera reported an "outpouring of grief" from across Libya's political divide. Eastern commander Khalifa Haftar expressed "deep sorrow," while the House of Representatives in Benghazi offered condolences. Analysts noted that al-Haddad was a unifying figure who refused to bow to armed groups and was actively working towards national reconciliation.
The crash occurred amidst renewed Turkish-Libyan military engagement. It took place just one day after Turkey’s parliament voted to extend the mandate of Turkish troops deployed in Libya by a further two years. General al-Haddad had been in Ankara for talks with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler aimed at strengthening defence cooperation.
Investigations into the precise cause of the crash are continuing as Libya mourns the loss of its key military leadership.
