A fatal business jet crash south of Ankara has claimed the life of Libya’s top military commander, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al‑Haddad, along with four accompanying officials, according to Turkish and Libyan authorities. The incident occurred Tuesday evening shortly after the delegation departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport following high‑level defence meetings.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the Dassault Falcon 50 took off at 20:10 local time en route to Tripoli before issuing an emergency landing signal roughly 40 minutes later. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 20:52, prompting an immediate search. The wreckage was later discovered in the rural Haymana district, south of the capital, with officials confirming there were no survivors.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah described the crash as a “tragic accident,” noting that the victims had been returning from official talks aimed at strengthening military cooperation with Türkiye. He praised the delegation as disciplined officers who had “served their country with sincerity and dedication.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with both governments pledging full transparency as aviation and security teams work to determine what led to the mid‑flight emergency. The death of al‑Haddad marks a significant loss for Libya’s military leadership at a time of ongoing political and security challenges.
