A catastrophic aviation incident has claimed the lives of Libya’s senior military leadership, including Armed Forces Chief General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, when their private jet crashed shortly after departing from Turkey’s capital. The Falcon 50 aircraft, carrying five high-ranking Libyan officers and military staff, went down near the village of Kesikkavak approximately 70 kilometers south of Ankara on Tuesday evening.
The delegation had been engaged in crucial defense negotiations with Turkish officials, including Defense Minister Yasar Guler, aimed at strengthening military cooperation between the two nations. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the tragedy via official statement, characterizing the event as a ‘great loss’ for the nation during this critical period of UN-brokered military unification efforts.
Among the deceased were key figures in Libya’s military infrastructure: General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil (Head of Ground Forces), Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi (Military Manufacturing Authority), Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab (Chief of Staff Advisor), and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub (Military Photographer). The exact number of crew members remains unconfirmed.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the aircraft issued an emergency landing signal approximately 40 minutes after its 8:30 PM departure from Esenboga Airport, citing potential electrical failure before all communication ceased. Security footage captured a sudden explosive illumination in the night sky near the crash site.
In response to the disaster, Ankara temporarily closed its airport and diverted incoming flights while assigning four prosecutors to investigate the incident. Both nations have committed to collaborative investigation efforts, with Libya dispatching a technical team to assist Turkish authorities in determining the precise cause of the malfunction that led to this devastating loss.