Wed Dec 24 09:20:19 UTC 2025: NEWS ARTICLE:

Libyan Military Chief Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey

Ankara, Turkey – December 24, 2025 – A private jet carrying Libyan military chief General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad and seven others crashed in Turkey on Tuesday evening, killing all on board. Turkish authorities and Libyan officials have confirmed the incident and launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash.

The plane, a Falcon 50-type business jet, was en route back to Tripoli after high-level defense talks in Ankara aimed at strengthening military cooperation between Libya and Turkey. According to Turkish officials, the aircraft reported an electrical fault shortly after takeoff from Ankara’s Esenboga airport at 8:30 pm and requested an emergency landing. The plane disappeared from radar while descending to the airport.

The wreckage was found near Kesikkavak village, approximately 70 kilometers south of Ankara. Search and rescue teams, including the Turkish disaster management agency AFAD, were deployed to the site amidst challenging muddy conditions.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh expressed his condolences on Facebook, calling the incident a “tragic accident” and a “great loss” for Libya.

General al-Haddad was a key figure in western Libya and instrumental in UN-brokered efforts to unify the country’s military, which has been divided since the 2011 uprising. Among the other victims were General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, Brigadier Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub. The identities of the three crew members have not yet been released.

The incident occurred a day after the Turkish parliament extended the mandate of Turkish troops in Libya for two years, reinforcing the existing security and military cooperation agreement between Ankara and the Tripoli-based government. The investigation is ongoing, with Libyan officials suggesting a technical malfunction as the likely cause.

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