Libya’s army chief of staff and four senior officials were killed late on Tuesday when a Maltese-registered charter jet crashed near Ankara, Turkish authorities confirmed.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of General Mohammed Al-Haddad. Through our various meetings in Libya, we built an excellent relationship based on mutual respect and a commitment to regional stability. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the Libyan people,” Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said.
The aircraft was carrying General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, Libya’s chief of general staff, along with his adviser Mohammed Al-Assawi, Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, Major General Mohammed Jumaa, and their escort, Mohammed Al-Mahjoub. No Maltese crew members were believed to be on board the flight.
According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the Dassault Falcon 50 jet departed Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 9.10pm bound for Tripoli. Radio contact with the aircraft was lost approximately 30 minutes later. The plane later requested an emergency landing while flying over the Haymana district, but communication could not be re-established.
Rescue teams located the wreckage near the village of Kesikkavak in Ankara’s Haymana district. Several Turkish media outlets broadcast footage showing a bright explosion lighting up the sky close to the last known location of the aircraft.
The jet was operated by Harmony Jets, a Maltese private aviation company based at Malta International Airport. Founded in 2017, Harmony Jets Limited operates a fleet of business jets and provides charter, aircraft management, maintenance and related aviation services.
Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the crash.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah expressed his condolences in a statement, describing the incident as a “tragic loss”.
“We have lost men who served their country with loyalty and dedication and were examples of discipline, responsibility and national commitment,” he said.
General al-Haddad had served as Libya’s chief of general staff since August 2020, having been appointed by then prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj. He was the top military commander in western Libya and played a key role in UN-brokered efforts to reunify the country’s divided military institutions.
Turkey maintains close political, economic and military ties with the UN-backed government in Tripoli, with frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides.
Black box recovered
Turkish authorities recovered the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder early on Wednesday. Interior Minister Yerlikaya said analysis of the devices has begun, while confirming that the victims’ bodies remain at the crash site. A 22-member Libyan delegation has since arrived in Ankara.
Featured images: Left (X @byroncamilleri), right (Anadolu Agency)