Libya’s Top Military Commander Dies in Plane Crash Near Ankara, Prompting Airspace Shutdown
ANKARA, Turkey — A business jet carrying Libya’s top military commander, Chief of the General Staff Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, crashed south of Ankara late Tuesday, leading Turkish authorities to temporarily shut down the airspace over the NATO capital and divert commercial flights. The Falcon 50 jet lost contact roughly 30 minutes after departing Esenboga International Airport, with officials confirming the feared death of Al-Haddad and four others aboard.
According to the Turkish Presidency, the aircraft sent an emergency landing notification near Haymana, about 75 kilometers south of Ankara, before contact was lost at 8:52 p.m. local time. The jet had taken off at 8:10 p.m. bound for Tripoli, Libya’s capital. Following the disappearance of the aircraft from radar, Turkish authorities swiftly closed Ankara’s airspace as a precautionary measure, a rare step reflecting the gravity of the incident and the high-profile nature of the passengers.
Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the suspected crash site. The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that Al-Haddad was on board along with four others, though details about the other passengers have not been released. Libyan officials have since confirmed the death of Al-Haddad, who was a key figure in the country’s ongoing military and political landscape.
The crash occurred just hours after Al-Haddad concluded an official visit to Ankara, where he met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Turkish Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. The meetings were part of ongoing military cooperation and security coordination between Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Unity. The timing of the crash, so soon after high-level talks, has heightened sensitivities around the incident.
Flight tracking data cited by Turkish broadcaster NTV and TRT showed multiple commercial flights were diverted away from Esenboga Airport while the airspace remained closed. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the emergency signal from the Falcon 50 was the last communication before the aircraft disappeared from radar.
Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah expressed condolences and confirmed the death of the army chief of staff, emphasizing the significant loss to the country’s military leadership. The incident has drawn international attention given Libya’s strategic importance and the ongoing complexities of its civil conflict.
Turkey’s decision to shut down the airspace over its capital city underscores the seriousness with which officials are treating the crash. Such measures are typically reserved for incidents with potential security implications or where the safety of the nation’s capital is at risk. The investigation is ongoing, with Turkish and Libyan authorities collaborating to determine the cause of the crash.
Al-Haddad’s death marks a critical moment for Libya’s military command amid efforts to stabilize the country. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has maintained a strategic interest in the region, and the crash near a NATO member state adds a complex dimension to the unfolding situation.
As search operations continue, officials have not ruled out any possibilities regarding the cause of the crash. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing security concerns involving foreign influence and internal divisions within Libya. The loss of such a senior military figure is expected to have significant repercussions for Libya’s defense and political dynamics in the coming weeks.
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