Libya’s Military Chief Among Eight Killed in Turkish Plane Crash

Search and recovery teams in Turkey have intensified their efforts following a tragic plane crash that took the lives of Libya’s military chief, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, and seven others. The incident occurred on the evening of March 12, 2024, shortly after the private jet took off from Ankara, en route to Tripoli. All individuals aboard, including four high-ranking military officers and three crew members, perished in the crash.

The aircraft, a Falcon 50, took off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 20:30 local time. Approximately 40 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported an electrical malfunction and requested an emergency landing back at the airport. Unfortunately, the plane lost contact with air traffic control while descending for the landing, prompting a search operation initiated by Turkish authorities.

The wreckage was later discovered near the village of Kesikkavak in Haymana, approximately 70 kilometers (around 43.5 miles) south of Ankara. In response, Turkish gendarmerie sealed off the crash site, while the Turkish disaster management agency, AFAD, established a mobile coordination center. Specialized vehicles were deployed to navigate the challenging terrain.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the fatalities, calling the event a “tragic accident” and a significant loss for the nation. He expressed condolences on social media, highlighting the impact of this event on Libya’s ongoing military unification efforts. Gen. al-Haddad was a pivotal figure in these efforts, representing the military command in western Libya, which has faced division since the ousting of former leader Muammar Gadhafi in 2011.

The other four military officers who lost their lives include:
– Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces,
– Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, director of the military manufacturing authority,
– Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an advisor to the chief of staff,
– Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer.

Details regarding the three crew members are yet to be disclosed. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya is expected to visit the crash site along with investigative prosecutors, while Libya plans to send a team to collaborate with Turkish officials.

This tragic event occurs against a backdrop of heightened military cooperation discussions between Turkey and Libya. The Libyan delegation was reportedly in Ankara to engage in talks aimed at bolstering defense ties between the two countries, a relationship that has evolved significantly in recent years.

Turkey has been a key ally of Libya’s government in the west, and recent diplomatic efforts have sought to strengthen ties with eastern factions as well. Just a day prior to the crash, Turkey’s parliament had approved an extension of its military mandate in Libya for an additional two years, following a 2019 security agreement with the Tripoli-based government.

As investigations into the crash continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to this devastating loss, which has reverberated throughout Libya’s military and governmental landscape.