Libyan army chief killed after jet crashes near Ankara

Dubai: A business jet carrying Libya’s chief of general staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al Haddad, crashed near Ankara late Tuesday after issuing an emergency alert shortly after takeoff, killing him and four others, Turkish and Libyan officials said.

The aircraft, a Falcon 50, lost contact about 40 minutes after departing Ankara’s Esenboğa International Airport en route to Tripoli, according to Ali Yerlikaya, Turkey’s interior minister.

He said the jet had requested an emergency landing near the Haymana district, south of Ankara, before disappearing from radar. Search and rescue teams later reached the wreckage.

Libya subsequently announced the deaths in an official statement, confirming that General Al Haddad was killed along with his adviser, the chief of staff of the land forces, the head of the Military Manufacturing Authority and a photographer. The announcement came after Turkish authorities confirmed that the wreckage of the aircraft had been found.

Libya’s prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, described the incident as a tragic accident that occurred as the delegation was returning from an official visit to Turkey. Those killed alongside General Al Haddad included Al-Fitouri Grebeel, as well as senior military and advisory officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, General Al Haddad had held meetings in Ankara with Turkish defense officials, including Yasar Guler, to discuss military cooperation between the two countries.

The visit coincided with Turkey’s parliamentary approval of a two-year extension allowing the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya.

Turkish authorities said temporary flight diversions were implemented at Esenboğa Airport following the crash as emergency protocols remained in effect.

Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show an explosion near the aircraft’s last known location, though officials have not commented on the cause of the crash.

General Al Haddad was appointed chief of staff by Libya’s U.N.-recognized Tripoli government in 2020 and played a central role in overseeing military coordination during a prolonged period of political division. Libyan media reported that an emergency crisis cell had been formed to coordinate with Turkish authorities as investigations into the incident continue.