A plane crash near Ankara, Turkey, on October 24, 2023, resulted in the deaths of Libya’s military chief, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and four others. The private jet went down shortly after taking off from Esenboga Airport, marking a tragic end to a diplomatic trip aimed at enhancing military cooperation between Libya and Turkey. All occupants were confirmed dead.
The Libyan delegation, led by al-Haddad, was in Turkey for high-level defense discussions. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah expressed his condolences via a statement on Facebook, describing the incident as a “tragic accident” and a “great loss” for Libya. The accident occurred as the delegation was returning home after their official visit to Ankara.
According to Turkish officials, contact with the aircraft was lost approximately 30 minutes into the flight due to what is believed to be a technical malfunction. The plane, a Falcon 50 business jet, issued an emergency landing signal near Haymana, a district south of Ankara, before all communication ceased.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the aircraft took off at 20:30 local time, with contact disappearing around 21:10. He noted that wreckage from the plane had been located, though there was no immediate confirmation from Turkish authorities regarding the fatalities.
During his visit, al-Haddad met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other officials to discuss various regional issues. The airport in Ankara was temporarily closed following the crash, resulting in several flights being diverted to other locations, according to reports from private news channel NTV.
In response to the incident, Turkey’s Justice Ministry announced that four prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the crash, a standard procedure in such cases. The circumstances surrounding the crash are expected to draw significant scrutiny, particularly given al-Haddad’s prominent role as the top military commander in western Libya. He has been instrumental in ongoing efforts to unify Libya’s fragmented military forces amid the country’s long-standing political turmoil.
The tragic loss of Gen. al-Haddad underscores the challenges faced by Libya as it navigates complex military and diplomatic landscapes, particularly in light of ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.
