Libya’s army chief, other generals killed in plane crash in Turkey

Libya’s highest-ranking army officer, Mohamed Ali al-Haddad, and four other senior military officials were killed in a plane crash in Turkey on Tuesday night, the Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, has confirmed.

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“This followed a tragic and painful incident while they were returning from an official trip from the Turkish city of Ankara. This grave loss is a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all the people,” Mr Dbeibah said in a statement reported by Reuters.

Mr Al-Haddad, the chief of general staff of the Libyan military, had been in Turkey for meetings with his counterpart, the Turkish defence minister, and other officials, the Turkish military said. He later departed in a private jet to return to Libya.

Turkish authorities reported that the aircraft lost radio contact shortly after taking off from Ankara, the capital. The Falcon 50 jet carried three crew members in addition to the five passengers.

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According to the New York Times, the wreckage was found in the Haymana district, about 40 miles southwest of central Ankara. Turkish television broadcast footage of search teams at the crash site, where debris was scattered over a wide area.

“Turkish government spokesman Burhanettin Duran said the jet had reported an electrical failure to air traffic control and requested an emergency landing roughly 15 minutes after takeoff. The plane was redirected back to Ankara’s airport, but disappeared from radar while descending, and contact could not be reestablished,” the Times reported.

Mr Al-Haddad held the highest position in Libya’s armed forces under the internationally recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli.

Appointed in 2020, he led efforts to organise and unify the Libyan Army under official state authority.

Libya remains divided, with rival factions controlling different regions since the death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The eastern part of the country, based in Tobruk, has its own prime minister and is under the control of Khalifa Haftar.

Those who died alongside Mr Al-Haddad included: Al-Fitouri Ghribel, a major general and chief of staff of the land forces; Mahmoud Al-Qattouwi, a brigadier general and director of the Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the chief of the general staff, and Mohamed Mahjoub, photographer at the news media office of the chief of the general staff.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the crash, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed on social media.

Mohamed Menfi, chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, described the deaths as a “significant loss” for both the military and the nation. He said the officials had dedicated their lives to Libya’s stability and national interests.

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The Government of National Unity has announced three days of official mourning. Flags will be flown at half-staff at state institutions, and official ceremonies will be suspended.

Libya’s state news agency reported that the prime minister’s office had directed the defence ministry to send a delegation to Ankara to coordinate with Turkish authorities and investigate the crash.