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Libya's military chief dies in tragic plane crash after Turkey visit

Dec 23, 2025, 4:00 PM123
(Update: Dec 25, 2025, 2:18 PM)
capital of Turkey
transcontinental country straddling Western Asia and Southeastern Europe

Libya's military chief dies in tragic plane crash after Turkey visit

  • A private jet carrying Libya's military chief lost contact shortly after taking off from Ankara.
  • The crash resulted in the deaths of all five occupants, including military officials.
  • The incident has led to a significant investigative response from both Turkish and Libyan authorities.
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In Turkey, a tragic aviation accident occurred when a private jet carrying senior Libyan military officials crashed shortly after takeoff from Ankara. The Falcon 50 aircraft, which carried Libya's military chief Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad and four others, lost contact approximately 40 minutes into the flight on December 22, 2025. The officials were in Ankara for high-level defense discussions related to military cooperation between Libya and Turkey. Air traffic controllers in Turkey confirmed that communication was lost with the aircraft after it issued an emergency landing signal near the village of Haymana, located south of Ankara. The plane departed from Esenboğa Airport at around 8:30 PM local time and was supposed to be returning to Tripoli. Eyewitness reports included sightings of a significant explosion illuminating the night sky, which may be linked to the crash. Authorities in Turkey responded by temporarily shutting down airspace over Ankara, diverting commercial flights and deploying search and rescue teams to the suspected crash site. Reports indicated that the Libyan delegation was crucial to ongoing military discussions, emphasizing the importance of this incident amidst ongoing tumult in Libya. The crash resulted in the loss of all personnel on board, marking a substantial loss for Libya's military. Initial investigations into the cause of the incident suggested a technical malfunction might have been involved. Libya's Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah expressed profound sorrow over the loss, emphasizing al-Haddad's significant role in efforts to unify Libya's military structure following the nation’s prolonged period of instability since the 2011 uprising which toppled Moammar Gadhafi. Search operations continue, and Turkey is conducting a formal investigation involving four prosecutors assigned to the case. Additionally, Libya intends to collaborate with Turkish authorities to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the crash.

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