Libya’s army chief, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, died late Tuesday when a Falcon 50 business jet crashed near Ankara, Turkey, killing all eight people on board, including senior military officials and crew members.
According to Turkish authorities, the aircraft took off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at around 5:10 pm GMT and lost contact approximately 42 minutes later. The jet reportedly issued an emergency landing request due to electrical failure before crashing in the Haymana district, about 74 kilometres south of Ankara.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that security teams located the wreckage shortly after contact was lost. Images broadcast by local media showed a large explosion lighting up the sky moments before the crash site was identified. A local resident described the impact as “like a bomb.”
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Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah expressed deep sorrow over the loss, confirming the death of Haddad, who had served as Libya’s Chief of General Staff since August 2020. Haddad had earlier held high-level meetings in Ankara with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and other senior officials and was returning to Tripoli at the time of the incident.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation into the crash. A senior Turkish official stated that the aircraft developed technical issues shortly after takeoff, prompting the emergency request.
Those killed in the crash included Haddad’s advisor Mohammed Al-Assawi, Major Generals Al-Fitouri Ghraibil and Mohammed Jumaa, an escort officer, and three crew members. Libya’s ambassador to Ankara visited the crash site as coordination continued between Turkish and Libyan authorities.
Libya has remained politically divided since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi, with a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east. Turkey maintains strong diplomatic and military ties with Tripoli while also engaging with eastern authorities in recent months.
Officials from both countries said further details would emerge following completion of the technical and forensic investigation.
