Libya's Top General Mohammed al-Haddad Killed in Turkiye Plane Crash, Sparking Stability Fears

A single plane crash could unravel Libya's fragile peace. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the chief of staff of the Libyan army and a key unifying figure, was killed in a plane crash in Turkiye. The incident, which occurred as he returned from an official visit, has sent shockwaves through the politically divided nation, raising concerns about the future of its military unification efforts.

Turkish officials reported that the private aircraft, heading to Tripoli on Tuesday, requested an emergency landing due to an electrical failure minutes after takeoff from Ankara before contact was lost. The crash also claimed the lives of four senior Libyan military officials and three crew members. In response, Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU) has declared three days of national mourning.

What We Know About the Crash

According to a statement from Turkiye's head of communications, the Dassault Falcon 50 jet departed Ankara Esenboga Airport at 17:17 GMT. The aircraft, reported to be 37 years old by Flightradar24, declared an emergency at 17:33 GMT. While air traffic controllers directed it back to the airport, it vanished from radar at 17:36 GMT. Wreckage was later located near Kesikkavak village. Turkish authorities have recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders and have launched a full investigation.

A Unifying Figure in a Divided Nation

Appointed in 2020, General al-Haddad was considered a crucial player in attempts to stabilize Libya, which has been in chaos since the 2011 toppling of Muammar Gaddafi. While serving the UN-recognized GNU in Tripoli, he was respected by all sides, including the rival eastern administration led by military commander Khalifa Haftar. In a sign of al-Haddad's broad appeal, Haftar's forces issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow over this tragic loss."

An Uncertain Future for Libya

The general's sudden death creates a significant power vacuum. Libya's Presidential Council has appointed General Salah Eddine al-Namrush as the acting chief of staff, but analysts agree his shoes will be difficult to fill. Wolfgang Pusztai, Austria’s former defense attache to Libya, told Al Jazeera that al-Haddad played a key role in ensuring the loyalty of powerful militias from the city of Misrata to the government. "This might really trigger some problems for [Prime Minister] Dbeibah, if this loyalty is broken in the future," Pusztai noted.