A plane crash in Turkey has killed Libyan military chief Muhammad Ali Ahmad al‑Haddad and seven other people. The accident occurred as a Libyan delegation was returning from an official trip to Ankara, according to Libyan Prime Minister Abdul‑Hamid Dbeibah. The private jet—a Dassault Falcon 50—took off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 p.m. local time and lost contact with air‑traffic controllers 40 minutes later. Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said the aircraft had requested an emergency landing because of a technical failure before it crashed 70 kilometres south of Ankara.
Among the victims were al‑Haddad’s advisor Mohammed Al‑Asawi Diab, Major General Al‑Fitouri Ghraibil, advisor Mahmoud al‑Qatiwi, photographer Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, and the three crew members. Libya has been embroiled in civil war since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with internal power struggles and foreign interference dividing the country. The UN‑backed government led by Prime Minister Dbeibah controls the western part of Libya, while a rival, Russia‑backed administration operates in the east.
Ankara has maintained close ties with the UN‑backed Libyan government, providing military support to the Tripoli‑based administration. The crash underscores the complexities of Libya’s ongoing conflict and its relations with foreign nations, including Turkey. As investigations continue, international observers will watch for any impact on the fragile political landscape. The loss of the military chief and other key officials is a significant blow, leaving Libya’s future uncertain amid continuing power struggles and foreign involvement.
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