TRAGEDY: Libya’s Military Chief Killed in Private Jet Crash Near Ankara
By Lions Roar News World Desk
ANKARA, TURKEY – A mission of diplomacy has ended in deep national mourning for Libya after the country’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, was killed in a tragic plane crash near the Turkish capital on Tuesday evening.
The private jet, a Dassault Falcon 50, went down shortly after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport, claiming the lives of all eight people on board.
✈️ The Incident: A Fatal Emergency
The aircraft departed Ankara at approximately 8:10 p.m. local time, bound for the Libyan capital of Tripoli. According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and aviation officials, the flight crew reported a critical electrical failure roughly 40 minutes into the flight.
The pilots declared an emergency and requested an urgent return to the airport, but the jet disappeared from radar near the Haymana district, south of Ankara. Security camera footage from the area reportedly captured a sudden flash in the night sky, indicating an explosion upon impact.
The Victims
The Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, confirmed the death of General al-Haddad and four other high-ranking officials:
- Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil (Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces)
- Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Qatawi (Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority)
- Mohamed al-Asawi Diab (Adviser to the Army Chief)
- Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub (Media Office Photographer)
Three crew members, reported to be French nationals, also perished in the crash.
🕊️ A “Great Loss” for Libya
General al-Haddad had been in Turkey for high-level defense talks with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his Turkish counterpart. He was a central figure in UN-backed efforts to unify Libya’s divided military institutions and was respected across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Dbeibah described the event as a “tragic and painful incident,” stating, “This grave affliction is a great loss to the nation and the military institution.” Even his rivals in eastern Libya, including Khalifa Haftar, issued condolences, acknowledging the general’s dedication to the state.
🔍 Investigation Underway
Turkish authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the crash. Search and rescue teams reached the wreckage near the village of Kesikkavak early Wednesday morning. A 22-person Libyan delegation has arrived in Turkey to assist in the probe and facilitate the repatriation of the victims’ remains.
Libya has officially declared three days of national mourning, with flags across the country flown at half-staff.
