By RismadarVoice Media
December 24, 2025
The head of Libya’s armed forces, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, four other senior military officials have died in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
Turkish authorities said the business jet, a Falcon Fifty aircraft, crashed late Tuesday shortly after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport en route to Tripoli. Three crew members were also killed, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said wreckage of the aircraft was located in the Haymana district, about seventy-four kilometers south of Ankara. He disclosed that contact with the jet was lost about forty-two minutes after takeoff.
According to Turkish officials, the aircraft had earlier reported an emergency due to an electrical failure and requested an emergency landing, however, communication could not be re-established.
Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, confirmed the death of Lieutenant General al-Haddad in a statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of the army’s chief of general staff.
Al-Haddad had earlier on Tuesday held talks in Ankara with Turkey’s Defense Minister, Yasar Guler, and other senior Turkish officials before departing for Libya.
Turkey’s Justice Minister, Yilmaz Tunc, said the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Eyewitnesses in the Haymana area reported hearing a loud explosion, while images aired by Turkish media showed a bright flash in the sky near the crash site.
Libyan officials said they were immediately informed by Turkish authorities and are awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad had served as Libya’s army chief of staff since August 2020, amid the country’s ongoing political and military divisions.
Turkey maintains close ties with Libya’s UN-recognized government in Tripoli, has continued diplomatic and military engagements with the country.
