Search teams probe wreckage after Libyan army chief, 7 others killed in plane crash

ANKARA, Turkey — Efforts at the crash site of a plane crash that claimed the lives of Libya’s military chief and other senior officers were intensified by search and recovery teams on Wednesday. They were working to secure the area and locate the flight recorders of the aircraft following a night of heavy rain and fog, according to Turkey’s state-run news agency.

The private jet, which was carrying Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other officers, and three crew members, crashed in Turkey on Tuesday after departing from the capital, Ankara, resulting in the tragic loss of all individuals on board. Libyan officials attributed the crash to a technical malfunction on the plane.

The Libyan delegation was returning to Tripoli after engaging in high-level defense discussions in Ankara with the aim of enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the fatalities, labeling the incident on Facebook as a “tragic accident” and a “significant loss” for Libya.

Al-Hadad, the top military commander in western Libya, played a pivotal role in the ongoing efforts under the U.N. to unify Libya’s military, which has experienced division similar to other institutions in the country.

The crash also claimed the lives of four other officers, including Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, the head of Libya’s ground forces, Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, advisor to the chief of staff, and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer with the chief of staff’s office.

The identities of the three crew members were not immediately disclosed.

Turkish officials reported that the Falcon 50 business jet departed from Ankara’s Esenboga airport at 8:30 p.m. and lost contact around 40 minutes later. The plane communicated an electrical fault to air traffic control and requested an emergency landing. While preparations for landing were underway at Esenboga, the aircraft disappeared from the radar during descent for the emergency landing, as stated by the Turkish presidential communications office.

The wreckage was discovered near the village of Kesikkavak in Haymana, a district approximately 70 kilometers (about 43.5 miles) south of Ankara.

At Haymana, gendarmerie police cordoned off the crash site, while the Turkish disaster management agency, AFAD, established a mobile coordination center, as reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency. Specialized vehicles, including tracked ambulances, were deployed due to the muddy terrain.

Anadolu mentioned that Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya is anticipated to visit the site along with prosecutors assigned to oversee the investigation.

A team from Libya is expected to travel to Ankara to collaborate with Turkish authorities in investigating the crash.

During his time in Ankara, al-Haddad had meetings with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other officials.

Libya descended into turmoil following the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi. The nation became divided, with conflicting administrations in the east and west, supported by various rogue militias and foreign powers.

Turkey has been aligned with Libya’s western government but has recently taken steps to improve relations with the eastern-based government as well.

The visit by the Libyan delegation occurred a day after the Turkish parliament sanctioned an extension of the mandate of Turkish troops stationed in Libya for two years. Turkey deployed troops following a 2019 agreement on security and military cooperation between Ankara and the Tripoli-based government.

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Abuelgasim’s report was filed from Cairo.