A senior Libyan military leader and seven others lost their lives after a private aircraft went down in central Turkey late Tuesday, authorities in Ankara and Tripoli confirmed, marking a significant loss for Libya’s defense establishment.
The victim was identified as Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, Libya’s chief of general staff, who was traveling home following official defense meetings with Turkish leaders. The aircraft, a Falcon 50 business jet, departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport in the evening but encountered serious technical difficulties shortly after takeoff.
According to Turkish aviation officials, the crew reported an onboard electrical problem and requested permission to return to the airport. Air traffic control cleared the aircraft for an emergency landing, but radar contact was lost while the jet was descending. Search teams later discovered the wreckage in a rural area of the Haymana district, southwest of the capital.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed that Gen. al-Haddad was traveling with several senior military officials, all of whom were killed in the crash. Three crew members also died. Initial assessments from Libyan and Turkish authorities suggest the incident was caused by a mechanical failure, though a full investigation is underway.
The Libyan delegation had been in Turkey to discuss defense coordination and security cooperation with officials from Ankara. The meetings came amid continued Turkish involvement in Libya under agreements with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli.
Turkey’s Interior Ministry announced the crash publicly after communication with the aircraft was lost, while the Justice Ministry assigned multiple prosecutors to investigate the cause. Esenboğa Airport briefly suspended operations following the incident, diverting several flights as emergency teams responded.
In a statement, Prime Minister Dbeibah described the crash as a devastating blow to the nation, praising the deceased officers for their service and commitment. Libyan authorities said an investigative team will be sent to Turkey to work alongside local officials.
Gen. al-Haddad played a central role in efforts to restructure and unify Libya’s fragmented military forces following years of conflict after the 2011 uprising. His death is expected to have a significant impact on ongoing security and reconciliation initiatives.
Local media outlets in Turkey reported that security camera footage captured a flash in the night sky near the crash site, believed to be the moment the aircraft went down. The investigation remains ongoing, with further details expected in the coming days.
