Ankara/Tripoli — Libya’s top military commander, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and four accompanying senior officials were killed Tuesday evening when their private jet crashed shortly after departing from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, officials confirmed.
The Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft, en route to Tripoli, took off from Esenboğa International Airport around 8:10 p.m. local time. Turkish authorities lost radio contact approximately 40 minutes later, after the plane issued an emergency landing request over the Haymana district, south of Ankara. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage near Kesikkavak village, where no survivors were found.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah announced the deaths in a statement, describing the incident as a “tragic accident” and a “great loss to the homeland and the armed forces.” He declared three days of national mourning.
“With deep sadness and sorrow, we have received news of the passing of the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, and members of his accompanying delegation,” Dbeibah said. “We have lost men who served their country with sincerity, dedication, discipline, and national commitment.”
The other victims were identified as:
- Major General Al-Fitouri Ghribel (or Grebeel), chief of staff of the land forces
- Brigadier Mahmoud Al-Qattouwi (or Al-Qutawi), director of the Military Manufacturing Authority
- Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the chief of general staff
- Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, photographer in the chief of staff’s media office
Reports indicate the plane carried three crew members, believed to be French nationals, though their fates were not immediately detailed in official statements.
The crash occurred just hours after al-Haddad concluded high-level talks in Ankara with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. The meetings focused on strengthening military and security cooperation between the two nations. Turkey has been a key ally to Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli, providing military support amid the country’s ongoing political divisions.
The incident comes one day after Turkey’s parliament approved a two-year extension of its military deployment mandate in Libya.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the loss of contact and the discovery of the wreckage, while Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. No immediate details on potential factors, such as mechanical failure or weather conditions, have been released.
Al-Haddad, a veteran officer who rose to prominence during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, served as the highest-ranking commander in western Libya’s armed forces. His death represents a significant blow to efforts to unify Libya’s fractured military institutions.
Condolences poured in from Libyan officials and international partners, with many highlighting al-Haddad’s role in national stability. Investigations by Turkish and possibly Libyan authorities are expected to provide further clarity in the coming days.