Tue Dec 23 23:11:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:

Summary:

A Libyan military delegation, including top commander General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad and four other officers, was killed in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey. The private jet, en route back to Libya after high-level defense talks, experienced a technical malfunction and requested an emergency landing before losing contact. Turkish officials confirmed the crash and initiated an investigation. The incident is a significant loss for Libya, particularly for ongoing efforts to unify its fractured military. The delegation’s visit occurred amidst strengthened ties between Libya and Turkey, including an extension of the Turkish military presence in Libya.

News Article:

Libyan Military Chief, Delegation Killed in Plane Crash Near Ankara

Ankara, Turkey – A private jet carrying Libya’s military chief, General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and four other high-ranking officers crashed shortly after takeoff from Ankara on Tuesday, killing all eight people on board. The Libyan delegation had been in Turkey for defense talks aimed at bolstering military cooperation between the two nations.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed General al-Haddad’s death and those of the four officers, including Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil (head of the ground forces), Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi (military manufacturing authority), Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab (chief of staff advisor), and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub (military photographer). The identities of the three crew members have not yet been released.

Turkish officials stated the Falcon 50 business jet encountered an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing shortly after departing from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. The plane disappeared from radar while descending. Security camera footage showed a bright flash in the sky near the village of Kesikkavak, where the wreckage was later found.

“The aircraft was redirected back to Esenboga where preparations for its landing began,” said Burhanettin Duran, the head of Turkish presidential communications office. “The plane however, disappeared from the radar while descending for the emergency landing.”

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that contact was lost approximately 40 minutes after the 8:30 PM takeoff.

General al-Haddad, the top military commander in western Libya, was a key figure in the UN-brokered effort to unify the country’s divided military. His death is a significant blow to these ongoing unification efforts.

The Libyan delegation’s visit came a day after Turkey’s parliament approved an extension of the mandate for Turkish troops serving in Libya. Turkey has deepened its ties with Libya’s Tripoli-based government.

Turkey’s Justice Ministry has launched an investigation into the crash, and Libya will send a team to assist with the investigation. Ankara’s airport was temporarily closed after the incident.

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