Libyan Army Chief Killed in Mysterious Plane Crash After Ankara Departure
Senior Libyan military commander dies as jet vanishes mid-flight from Turkey, raising questions amid regional tensions and covert destabilization
Libya, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Mohammed al-Haddad, has been killed in a mysterious plane crash shortly after departing from Ankara, Turkish and Libyan officials confirmed on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred after a private jet carrying the senior military figure lost contact with air traffic control minutes after takeoff from Esenboga Airport, triggering emergency alerts and reports of a powerful explosion in the area.
Aircraft Loses Contact After Emergency Signal
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that communication with a Falcon 50 aircraft, registration number 9H-DFJ, was lost at 20:52 local time, just 42 minutes after its departure from Ankara at 20:10.
According to Yerlikaya, the jet transmitted an emergency landing signal near the Haymana district in Ankara province moments before disappearing from radar. Five people were confirmed to be on board, including al-Haddad.
Air traffic monitoring platforms later showed multiple commercial flights being diverted away from Ankara airspace as emergency protocols were activated.
Libyan Government Confirms Death, Declares Official Mourning
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh officially confirmed the death of Mohammed al-Haddad, issuing a public statement mourning the loss of what he described as a “national military leader who served Libya during a critical period.”
The Libyan government has not yet released details regarding the destination of the flight or the purpose of al-Haddad’s visit to Turkey.
Explosion Reports Raise Security Concerns
Eyewitnesses cited by Turkish media outlet IHA reported hearing a powerful explosion near Esenboga Airport around the time contact with the aircraft was lost. While Turkish authorities have not officially confirmed an explosion, search-and-rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the suspected crash area.
As of publication time, no wreckage has been formally presented to the public, and officials have refrained from disclosing the cause of the crash.
The killing of a senior Libyan military commander under opaque circumstances comes as Libya remains the target of continuous foreign interference, intelligence operations, and proxy destabilization across West Asia and North Africa. (PW)