Libya’s Army Chief Dies in Plane Crash in Turkey
Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, died on Tuesday in a plane crash in Turkey, according to reports. The accident occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Esenboğa Airport in Ankara, heading to Tripoli, with all passengers on board losing their lives.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh confirmed the incident, describing the death of the Chief of Staff and his companions as a great loss for the country, its military institutions, and the Libyan people. He stated that the plane was carrying several senior military officials from Libya.
According to released information, the commander of Libya’s ground forces, the head of the military industries department, a chief of staff adviser, and the office photographer were also on board and all perished in the crash. These officials had traveled to Turkey on an official visit and met with Turkish military authorities.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, stated that the plane departed Ankara at 17:10 GMT but lost radio contact about 40 minutes later. The wreckage was found in the Haymana district of Ankara province.
Turkish officials said the aircraft was a Dassault Falcon 50 and had requested an emergency landing before the crash, but no further contact was made. Turkey’s Ministry of Justice announced the launch of an official investigation into the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, the Libyan government has dispatched an official delegation to Ankara to follow up on the matter and declared three days of national mourning. The crash occurred one day after the Turkish parliament extended the mandate of Turkish military forces in Libya for another two years.
