Libya's army chief dies in plane crash in Turkey

ANKARA,— The chief of staff of Libya’s army, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died Tuesday in a plane crash shortly after leaving Ankara, Libya’s internationally recognized government confirmed. Four additional passengers were on the aircraft.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah described the accident as a heavy blow to the country and the military. “This tragic incident happened while returning from an official visit to Ankara. It is a grave loss for the nation and all Libyans,” he said.

Authorities confirmed the plane carried the commander of Libya’s ground forces, the director of the military manufacturing authority, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a photographer.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported on X that the Dassault Falcon 50 jet departed Esenboga Airport at 1710 GMT for Tripoli.

Contact was lost at 1752 GMT. The aircraft was later found near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district.

Yerlikaya said the plane requested an emergency landing over Haymana, but no communication was established. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said authorities have launched an investigation.

The Libyan Government of National Unity in Tripoli said Dbeibah instructed the defense minister to send an official delegation to Ankara to monitor the situation.

Walid Ellafi, state minister for political affairs and communication, told Libya Alahrar broadcaster that the crash report’s timing is uncertain. He noted the jet was a leased Maltese aircraft, and officials have limited information on its ownership and technical history.

The government declared three days of national mourning.

Turkey’s defense ministry previously announced Al-Haddad’s visit, noting meetings with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and other Turkish military officials.

The crash occurred a day after the Turkish parliament approved extending the deployment of its troops in Libya by two years.

Turkey, a NATO member, has provided military and political support to Libya’s Tripoli-based government.

In 2020, it deployed personnel to train Libyan forces and signed a maritime deal contested by Egypt and Greece. A preliminary energy exploration agreement was signed in 2022, also opposed by Egypt and Greece.

Recently, Ankara has sought closer engagement with Libya’s eastern authorities under its “One Libya” policy, signaling a broader diplomatic approach to the divided nation.

(With files from Reuters)