Ankara (Rajeev Sharma): A tragic aviation accident near Ankara, Turkey, claimed the lives of several senior Libyan officials, along with the aircraft’s crew, on Tuesday night. The Falcon 50-type business jet crashed near the village of Kesikkavak in Haymana, roughly 70 kilometers south of the Turkish capital.
Among the victims were some of Libya’s top military personnel, including Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces; Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, leader of the military manufacturing authority; Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an advisor to the chief of staff; and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer attached to the chief of staff’s office. The identities of the three crew members have not yet been confirmed.
Turkish authorities reported that the jet had departed from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 8:30 p.m. Contact was lost approximately 40 minutes after takeoff. The plane had requested an emergency landing after reporting an electrical malfunction. Officials redirected it back toward the airport, but it vanished from radar while descending. Security camera footage broadcast on local channels showed a bright flash over Haymana, suggesting an explosion.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the timeline of the flight and the emergency signal. Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish presidential communications office, said the aircraft had reported the electrical fault and that preparations for a return landing were underway when the plane disappeared.
The Libyan delegation had been in Ankara for high-level meetings. Among them was al-Haddad, who had met Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and other officials. The airport was temporarily closed following the crash, and several flights were diverted. Four prosecutors have been assigned to lead the investigation, according to Turkey’s Justice Ministry. Libya has also announced plans to send an investigative team to work alongside Turkish authorities.
Libya has faced ongoing instability since the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi, resulting in rival governments in the east and west supported by various militias and foreign powers. Turkey has traditionally backed Libya’s western administration but has recently sought to improve ties with the eastern-based government. The visit by the Libyan delegation came one day after Turkey’s parliament approved a two-year extension for Turkish troops deployed in Libya under a 2019 military cooperation agreement.
The crash represents a significant loss for Libya’s military leadership and raises questions about aviation safety for diplomatic missions in the region. Investigations are ongoing.
