Libya’s army chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died on Tuesday night in a plane crash after departing Turkiye’s capital, Ankara. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah confirmed the incident and described it as a major national loss.
According to the prime minister, the crash occurred as the delegation returned from an official visit to Turkiye. He said four other passengers were also on board the aircraft.
In a statement, Dbeibah expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He said the incident caused pain to the nation, the military institution, and the Libyan people. He also extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Officials Confirm Identities of Victims on Board
The prime minister said the aircraft carried several senior military figures. These included the commander of Libya’s ground forces. The director of the military manufacturing authority was also on the plane.
In addition, an adviser to the chief of staff traveled on the jet. A photographer from the chief of staff’s office also joined the delegation.
Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya provided details about the flight’s final moments. He said the plane departed Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 1710 GMT. The jet headed toward Tripoli shortly afterward.
However, radio contact ended at 1752 GMT, according to Turkish authorities. Soon after, emergency teams began search operations in central Turkiye.
Emergency Landing Request Failed Near Haymana
Yerlikaya said officials later located the wreckage near Kesikkavak village. The site lies in Ankara’s Haymana district. Rescue teams reached the area after receiving reports from aviation authorities.
He added that the Dassault Falcon 50 jet requested an emergency landing. The request came while the aircraft flew over Haymana. However, controllers could not re-establish communication with the crew.
As a result, the aircraft crashed before completing the maneuver. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the accident.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said investigators launched a formal inquiry. He confirmed that prosecutors and aviation experts were examining the crash site.
Libya Orders Delegation and Declares Mourning
Following the crash, Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity took immediate action. The government said the prime minister instructed the defence minister to send a delegation to Ankara.
The delegation will coordinate with Turkish officials. It will also follow legal and technical proceedings related to the crash.
Walid Ellafi, Libya’s state minister for political affairs, spoke to local media. He said authorities lacked sufficient information about the aircraft’s ownership. He added that the jet was leased and registered in Malta.
However, Ellafi said investigators would examine its technical history. He noted that a full crash report may take time.
Meanwhile, the Libyan government announced three days of official mourning nationwide. Flags were lowered across state institutions in memory of the victims.
Crash Follows Key Turkiye-Libya Developments
Earlier, Turkiye’s defence ministry confirmed Haddad’s visit to Ankara. It said he met Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler. He also held talks with other senior military officials.
Notably, the crash occurred one day after Turkiye extended its troop deployment in Libya. Parliament approved the extension for two additional years.
Turkiye remains a key ally of Libya’s internationally recognised government. Since 2020, Ankara has provided military training and political support.
Later, both countries signed maritime and energy agreements. Egypt and Greece have opposed these deals. Recently, Turkiye has also increased contacts with Libya’s eastern authorities.
