A private jet carrying Libya’s military chief, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and four other individuals crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, Turkey, on the evening of March 5, 2024. All five occupants died in the incident, which occurred during a trip intended to strengthen military cooperation between Libya and Turkey.
The Libyan delegation was in Ankara for high-level defense discussions, as confirmed by Turkish officials. Following the crash, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah expressed his condolences through a statement on social media, describing the event as a “tragic accident” and a “great loss” for Libya.
According to reports from Turkish authorities, contact with the Falcon 50 business jet was lost approximately thirty minutes into its flight back to Libya, due to a suspected technical malfunction. The plane had taken off from Esenboga Airport at 20:30 local time. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya noted that the aircraft sent an emergency landing signal near Haymana, a district situated south of Ankara, before all communication ceased.
Witnesses reported seeing a bright flash in the night sky over Haymana, which local television stations described as an explosion. The Turkish authorities later confirmed the discovery of wreckage belonging to the aircraft, although they did not immediately verify the fatalities.
While in Ankara, al-Haddad had engaged with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other officials, focusing on vital regional security issues. The airport in Ankara was subsequently closed following the incident, leading to the diversion of several flights to alternative locations.
In response to the crash, Turkey’s Justice Ministry announced that four prosecutors would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, a standard procedure in such cases. Al-Haddad was a significant figure in Libya, serving as the top military commander in the western region of the country. His involvement in the ongoing U.N.-sponsored efforts to unify Libya’s military highlighted his importance in a nation that has faced fragmentation across its institutions.
The loss of al-Haddad and the other passengers adds to the complexity of Libya’s ongoing struggles for stability and unity. The international community will likely monitor the situation closely, given its implications for regional security and diplomatic relations.
