Libya’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash on Tuesday while returning from an official visit to Turkey. Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, head of the UN-backed Government of National Unity, confirmed the “tragic accident” near Ankara. Al-Haddad perished alongside four companions.
Al-Dbeibah expressed deep sorrow, calling the loss a tragedy for Libya’s nation and military.
Victims include top officers
The four others killed were identified as Maj. Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghreibel, Chief of Staff of Ground Forces; Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatioui, Director of Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the army chief of staff; and photographer Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.
Turkish broadcaster CNNTurk reported the Falcon 50 jet carried a crew of three French nationals.
Crash details near Ankara
Turkish authorities lost contact with the business jet, tail number 9H-DFJ, shortly after takeoff from Ankara Esenboga Airport at 8:10 p.m. local time. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said an emergency landing signal came from near Haymana, 50 miles southwest of Ankara, but contact failed.
Turkish army forces located wreckage 2 km south of Kesikkavak Village in Haymana District. CNNTurk noted the jet declared an electrical emergency before communication ceased.
Official visit and investigation
Al-Haddad met Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu in Ankara earlier Tuesday for bilateral talks following a military ceremony. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced a thorough investigation into all aspects of the Libya army chief crash.
Son Dakika!
— Politikalojik 🇹🇷͜͜͡͡✯ (@Politikalojik) December 23, 2025
Ankara’nın Haymana ilçesinde, Libya Genelkurmay Başkanı Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad’ı ve ekibini taşıyan uçağın enkazına ulaşıldı. pic.twitter.com/FFJPgBjoeD
Source: CNN
Also read: Greta Thunberg arrested under UK terrorism law at pro-Palestinian protest
Check out more on Youtube.
