Libya’s army chief Al-Haddad killed in Turkey plane crash: report

Airspace over Türkiye’s capital was closed on Tuesday night after a business jet carrying Libya’s top military commander crashed south of Ankara shortly after takeoff, prompting a change of flights, an urgent security response and an ongoing investigation in a NATO member state.

Falcon 50 business jet was carrying the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces According to Turkish officials cited by Al-Monitor, Muhammad Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad and four others lost contact about 30 minutes after leaving Esenboğa International Airport. Libyan and Turkish officials have since confirmed Al-Haddad’s death.

The temporary closure of Ankara airspace took the incident beyond a routine aviation accident. Such measures are generally addressed to situations involving unresolved security risks or the need to secure the country’s capital while authorities assess ongoing potential threats.

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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that communication with the plane was lost at 20.52 local time after he sent an emergency landing notification near Haymana, approximately 75 kilometers south of the capital. The jet with tail number 9H-DFJ took off at 20.10 in the evening to go to Tripoli.

Following the loss of contact, Turkish authorities closed Ankara airspace as a precaution and diverted many commercial flights from Esenboğa Airport, according to flight tracking data cited by Turkish broadcasters NTV and TRT. Search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area where the accident was suspected.

The accident occurred a few hours after El Haddad completed his official visit to Ankara. According to TRT, the Turkish Ministry of Defense had previously announced that the Libyan Chief of General Staff met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Turkish Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and other senior commanders as part of the ongoing military and security coordination between Turkey and Libya.

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Falcon 50 sent an emergency signal after taking off from Ankara; Search efforts continue near Haymana. Photo: Anadolu Agency Video, via Reuters. (Anadolu Agency Video via Reuters)

Turkey Today reported that the visit underlined the deepening defense ties between Ankara and Libya’s Tripoli-based government, adding sensitivity to the incident given the seniority of those on the plane and its timing right after high-level meetings.

Prime Minister of Libya’s UN-recognized National Unity Government, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, said that he received the news of the death of Libyan Chief of General Staff Muhammad Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad after Haddad’s plane lost radio connection over Ankara. Reuters reported.

Dbeibah said he mourned Al-Haddad’s death and added that the chief of staff was accompanied on the plane by other people, including military officials. No additional details about the identities or conditions of the other passengers were immediately released.

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Ankara Airport, Türkiye, Thursday, August 1, 2024. (AP Photo)

Turkish authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the accident to the public. No official statements have indicated sabotage or enemy fire, and any conclusions beyond the reported in-flight emergency remain to be confirmed.

While search and rescue efforts continue, Turkish officials said more information will be released as it is confirmed.