A business jet carrying Libya’s most senior military officials has crashed near Türkiye’s capital Ankara, killing all five people on board and triggering shock across Libya’s political and security establishment. The Dassault Falcon 50 went down late Tuesday night after losing contact with air traffic control shortly after departing Ankara’s Esenboga Airport on a return flight to Tripoli.
Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the aircraft took off at 8:10 p.m. local time and lost radio contact at 8:52 p.m. while flying over the Haymana district.
According to Turkish authorities, the jet had issued an emergency landing request moments before communications ceased. The wreckage was later found about two kilometres south of Kesikkavak village, roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Ankara.
Among those killed was Libya’s Chief of General Staff, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, along with four other senior officials, including Major General Al-Faituri Ghraibil and Brigadier Mahmoud Al-Qatiwi. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as a national tragedy.
“This great loss is a tremendous loss for the homeland, for the military institution, and for all the people,” Dbeibah said in an official statement, praising the victims for their “sincerity, dedication, and national commitment.”
The delegation had been in Ankara earlier in the day for high-level military talks with Turkish counterparts. Türkiye maintains close political and military ties with Libya’s UN-backed government in Tripoli, providing training, advisory support, and equipment since 2019.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show a bright explosion lighting up the night sky near Ankara, though officials have not confirmed whether the blast occurred mid-air or upon impact. Turkish authorities temporarily closed Ankara’s airspace following the crash and launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving gendarmerie and emergency teams.
Libyan and Turkish officials have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash, and an investigation is expected to focus on mechanical failure and flight conditions. The deaths mark one of the most serious losses for Libya’s military leadership in recent years, with analysts warning of potential implications for stability and command continuity within the armed forces.
