LAHORE, December 24 — A private business jet carrying Libya’s Chief of General Staff, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, and four others crashed near Ankara, Turkey, Libyan and Turkish authorities have confirmed, marking a major blow to Libya’s military leadership.
The French-built Falcon 50 aircraft lost radio contact minutes after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport while en route to Tripoli on Tuesday evening, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. The flight had requested an emergency landing near the Haymana district, but communication was severed before contact could be re-established.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the death of General Al-Haddad and four others on board, describing the incident as a tragic loss for the country. Reports indicate the wreckage was located after emergency protocols were activated, and Turkish search and rescue teams were involved in the operation.
General Al-Haddad had been in Ankara earlier in the day for high-level defence talks with Turkish officials, including the defence minister and other senior commanders. The crash has prompted a formal investigation by Turkish authorities, with airspace temporarily closed following the incident.
Details about the exact cause of the crash are still emerging, and both Libyan and Turkish officials are expected to release further updates as investigations progress.
