Major plane crash in Türkiye, Libyan military chief among 8 killed
Ankara/Tripoli (The Uttam Hindu): A major aviation tragedy occurred in Türkiye when a private jet (Dassault Falcon 50) crashed shortly after taking off from the capital, Ankara. The accident claimed the lives of eight people, including Libya’s Chief of Staff and top military commander, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh described the incident as a “tragic accident” and announced three days of national mourning.
According to available information, the aircraft departed from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport for Libya but lost contact around 40 minutes into the flight. Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the jet had sent an emergency landing signal while flying over the Haymana area, but communication could not be restored afterward. The wreckage was later found near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district.
Along with Al-Haddad, four senior Libyan military officials and three crew members were killed in the crash. Reports suggest that the delegation was returning after defence cooperation meetings in Ankara, where Al-Haddad had met Türkiye’s Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and other senior officials. Initial assessments point to a possible technical or electrical failure, though Turkish authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause. Following the incident, Ankara airport was temporarily closed and several flights were diverted.
Contact lost amid bad weather
It is believed that poor weather conditions led to the loss of contact with the aircraft. Before communication broke down, the jet had transmitted an emergency landing signal near the Haymana district south of Ankara. Minutes later, a bright flash was reportedly seen in the sky over the area, prompting immediate action by security and rescue agencies.
Crash after meeting defence minister
Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad was the top military commander in western Libya and was considered a key figure in United Nations-backed efforts to unify Libya’s divided armed forces. He was on an official visit to Türkiye on Tuesday, during which he met Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and other senior officials in Ankara. He boarded the flight for Libya later that evening, which tragically ended in the fatal crash.