Libya's Army Chief al-Haddad Killed in Turkey Plane Crash Hours After Military Talks

Just hours after discussing stronger military cooperation, tragedy struck. Libya's army chief, Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been killed in a plane crash in Turkey, according to Libya's prime minister. The general and four others were on board a Falcon 50 aircraft that went down after taking off from the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Tuesday evening.

Final 42 Minutes: Signal Lost After Emergency Request

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X that officials lost the signal with the business jet at 20:52 local time, approximately 42 minutes after it departed from Ankara's airport. The Tripoli-bound jet had reportedly issued an emergency landing request before contact was lost. The aircraft's wreckage was later found near the village of Kesikkavak, south-west of Ankara, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway.

A 'Great Loss' for Libya After Key Defense Talks

In Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, prime minister of the internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU), confirmed the deaths, calling it a "great loss" for the nation. He said Libya had "lost men who served their country with sincerity and dedication."

Gen. Haddad's delegation was in Turkey for talks aimed at strengthening military and security cooperation. According to Reuters, he had held talks with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler just hours before the crash. Turkey has built close political, military, and economic ties with Libya's GNU after intervening in 2019 to help the government fend off an offensive from eastern-based forces.