Fri Dec 26 01:38:48 UTC 2025: Summary:

A private jet carrying Libya’s military chief of staff, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and seven others crashed in Turkey on December 24, 2025, killing all aboard. The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed the recovery of the black boxes and has launched an investigation in coordination with Libyan officials. The Libyan delegation was returning from defense talks in Ankara aimed at strengthening military cooperation. Libyan officials initially attributed the crash to a technical malfunction. The crash has complicated ongoing UN-brokered efforts to unify Libya’s military, a key step in stabilizing the country, which has been divided since the 2011 uprising.

News Article:

Jet Crash Kills Libyan Military Chief, Investigation Underway in Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey – December 26, 2025 – A private jet carrying Libyan military chief of staff, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and seven others crashed in Turkey on Tuesday, December 24, claiming all lives on board. Turkish authorities have recovered the plane’s black boxes and launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, working in coordination with Libyan officials.

The jet went down after taking off from Ankara, where the Libyan delegation had been engaged in defense talks aimed at bolstering military cooperation between Libya and Turkey. Libyan officials initially suggested a technical malfunction as the likely cause of the crash.

The death of Gen. al-Haddad, a key figure in Western Libya, is a significant setback to ongoing UN-brokered efforts to unify Libya’s fractured military, a crucial step towards stabilizing the country.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” said a Turkish Defence Ministry spokesperson. “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and the people of Libya during this difficult time.”

A 22-person Libyan delegation, including family members of the deceased, arrived in Turkey to assist with the investigation and recovery efforts, hampered by wreckage scattered across a wide area.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since the 2011 uprising that ousted Muammar Gadhafi, leading to a divided country with rival administrations and various militias vying for power. While Turkey has historically supported the government in Western Libya, recent efforts have been made to improve relations with the eastern-based administration as well.

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