Turkey – A devastating private jet crash in central Turkey claimed the life of the Libya military chief and several senior officers on Tuesday night, sending shockwaves through the North African nation. The tragedy occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from Ankara, killing all eight people aboard in what officials have described as a catastrophic technical malfunction.
Fatal Crash Claims Top Military Leadership
Libya’s internationally recognized government confirmed that General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Libya military chief of staff, perished in the crash along with four other senior officers and three crew members. The loss represents a significant blow to Libya’s military establishment and its efforts toward national reunification.
Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah addressed the nation following the tragedy, describing the incident as a tragic accident and a great loss for Libya in a statement posted on social media. The death of the Libya military chief has left a leadership vacuum at a critical time for the divided nation.
Details of the Fatal Flight
The Dassault Falcon 50 business jet had departed from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport on Tuesday evening, heading back to Libya after completing a high-level defence visit. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the plane took off around 8:30 pm local time and lost contact approximately 40 minutes later after issuing an emergency landing signal near Haymana.
The aircraft carrying the Libya military chief suffered a technical malfunction shortly after departure. Turkish officials located the wreckage near the village of Kesikkavak in Haymana district, approximately 70 kilometers south of the capital. The crash site revealed the devastating impact of the incident.
Technical Malfunction and Emergency Response
Burhanettin Duran, head of the presidential communications office, revealed that the crew had reported an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing. Air traffic controllers immediately redirected the aircraft back to Esenboga Airport in response to the distress call from the jet carrying the Libya military chief.
However, the plane vanished from radar while descending, indicating a catastrophic failure that prevented the crew from completing the emergency landing. Security camera footage aired by local television channels captured the night sky over Haymana briefly lighting up in what appeared to be an explosion, marking the tragic final moments of the flight.
Ankara’s airport was temporarily closed following the incident, and several flights were diverted as authorities responded to the emergency and launched rescue operations.
Senior Officers Lost in Tragedy
Along with the Libya military chief, the crash claimed the lives of several other high-ranking military officials who were integral to Libya’s defense establishment. General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces, died in the incident, representing another significant loss to the military hierarchy.
Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Qatawi, who led the military manufacturing authority, was also killed. Mohammed al-Asawi Diab, an adviser to the Libya military chief, perished alongside Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer with the chief of staff’s office. The three crew members’ identities were not immediately disclosed.
Libya Military Chief’s Critical Role
Al-Haddad was appointed as Libya military chief in 2020 and served as the top military commander in western Libya. He played a crucial role in United Nations-backed efforts to reunify the country’s fractured armed forces, working to bridge divisions that have plagued Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gaddafi.
Also Read: Epstein Files Expose: Shocking Trump Revelations and Rape Claims
The Libya military chief had been working to consolidate military power and establish unified command structures across rival administrations and militias entrenched in the eastern and western regions of the country. His death creates uncertainty about the continuity of these reunification efforts.
Purpose of Ankara Visit
The Libyan delegation led by the Libya military chief had been in Ankara for critical talks aimed at deepening military cooperation between the two nations. During the visit, al-Haddad met with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and senior military officials to discuss enhanced security partnerships.
The trip came just one day after Turkey’s parliament approved a two-year extension of the mandate for Turkish troops deployed in Libya under a 2019 security agreement. This timing underscored the strategic importance of the visit and Turkey’s continued support for Libya’s Tripoli-based government.
Investigation Underway
Turkey, a key ally of Libya’s Tripoli-based government, announced that four prosecutors have been appointed to investigate the crash that killed the Libya military chief. The investigation will examine the technical malfunction, maintenance records, and circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
Libya will send its own investigative team to Ankara to participate in the inquiry alongside Turkish authorities, according to a government statement. The joint investigation aims to determine the exact cause of the electrical fault and why the emergency landing attempt failed.
The loss of the Libya military chief and his senior officers represents a profound setback for Libya’s stability efforts and its military modernization programs during a critical period of national reconstruction.
