Defense & Military
Libyan Military Chief Dies in Turkey Plane Crash Near Ankara
A private jet carrying Libya’s army chief and officials crashed near Ankara after defense talks, killing all onboard and impacting Libyan military efforts.
This article summarizes reporting by Al Jazeera and official statements from Turkish and Libyan authorities.
A private business jet carrying a high-level Libyan military delegation, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army, crashed near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday evening. Authorities have confirmed that all eight individuals on board, five passengers and three crew members, perished in the incident. The crash occurred shortly after the delegation concluded high-level defense talks with Turkish officials.
According to reporting by Al Jazeera, the aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. Turkish officials later located the wreckage in a rural area south of the capital. The loss of General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad marks a significant blow to the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and ongoing efforts to unify Libya’s fractured military institutions.
The aircraft, identified as a Dassault Falcon 50 with the registration 9H-DFJ, departed from Esenboga Airport (ESB) at approximately 20:10 local time (17:10 GMT) on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. It was en route to Tripoli, Libya.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that air traffic control lost the signal with the jet at 20:52 local time. Search and rescue teams, including Gendarmerie units, were immediately dispatched to the last known coordinates. The wreckage was subsequently discovered near Kesikkavak village in the Haymana district, roughly 70 to 75 kilometers south of Ankara.
While a full investigation has been launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, initial reports suggest technical issues were a factor. Turkish officials indicated that the pilot contacted air traffic control to request an emergency landing due to an “electrical failure” moments before the signal was lost. Footage aired on Turkish media reportedly showed a flash of light in the night sky, consistent with a high-impact crash or explosion.
Libyan authorities have confirmed the identities of the five passengers, all of whom were key figures in the western Libyan military establishment. The three crew members, whose identities have not yet been released, also died in the crash.
The deceased delegation members include: “A great loss to the homeland.”
, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, mourning the delegation
The delegation was in Turkey for critical defense meetings, underscoring the deep military ties between the two nations. Earlier on Tuesday, General Al-Haddad met with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler and General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, the Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
Turkey remains a primary backer of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. The visit coincided with a significant legislative move in Turkey; just one day prior, on Monday, the Turkish Parliament approved a motion to extend the mandate of Turkish troops in Libya for an additional two years. This extension facilitates continued military training and advisory support to forces in western Libya.
The death of General Al-Haddad creates an immediate and precarious vacuum in the military command structure of western Libya. Al-Haddad was not only a commander but a central figure in the delicate, UN-brokered negotiations to unify the country’s rival armed forces, specifically between his Tripoli-based cadres and the eastern forces led by General Khalifa Haftar.
We assess that his sudden absence may stall these unification talks and could trigger internal power struggles within the western military factions as they vie to fill the leadership void. The timing, immediately following the reaffirmation of Turkish military support, highlights the strategic sensitivity of the situation.
In Tripoli, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah declared three days of national mourning. In a statement, he praised the deceased officers for their “sincerity and dedication” to the nation. The Turkish Ministry of Defense also issued a statement expressing condolences to the Libyan people and the families of the victims.
Libyan Army Chief and High-Level Delegation Killed in Turkey Plane Crash
Incident Timeline and Crash Details
Preliminary Cause
Casualties and Delegation Members
Geopolitical Context and Defense Talks
AirPro News Analysis
Official Reactions
Sources
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