A private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, crashed overnight near Ankara after reporting an electrical malfunction and requesting an emergency landing, Turkish officials said. The Dassault Falcon 50 lost contact with air traffic control while descending for landing, killing all eight people on board.
Crash Details
The aircraft departed Ankara’s Esenboga Airport for Tripoli on Tuesday and reported an emergency 16 minutes into the flight. Despite being redirected back to the airport, it disappeared from radar shortly afterward. Turkish authorities have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, with analysis underway.
Who Was On Board
Those killed included Haddad, four members of his entourage and three crew members. Libya’s internationally recognised government confirmed the deaths, with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah calling the incident a “great loss for the nation.”
Political and Military Impact
Libya’s rival administrations in the east and west declared three days of mourning, signalling rare unity in response to the tragedy. The head of Libya’s Presidential Council said the deputy chief of staff would temporarily assume Haddad’s duties, stressing continuity within the military institution.
Investigation Focus
Libyan officials said the jet was leased and registered in Malta, with investigators expected to scrutinise the aircraft’s ownership, maintenance records and technical history alongside the black box data.
Why It Matters
Haddad’s death removes a key figure from Libya’s fragile military hierarchy at a time when the country remains divided and politically unstable. The incident also raises questions over aviation safety, oversight and the use of leased aircraft for high-level government travel.
What’s Next
Turkish authorities are continuing the crash investigation, while Libyan officials prepare to appoint a new chief of staff. Findings from the black box analysis are expected to be central to determining the cause of the crash.
With information from Reuters.
