Libyan army chief killed as private jet crashes near Ankara

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TURKEY — DECEMBER 23, 2025

A private jet flying from Ankara to Libya’s capital Tripoli crashed near the Haymana district, killing Libya’s Army Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad and all other passengers on board, Turkish and Libyan officials confirmed.

The Falcon 50 business jet lost contact with air traffic control shortly after issuing an emergency landing request, triggering large-scale search and rescue operations southwest of the Turkish capital.

The incident has raised serious concerns over flight safety and prompted parallel investigations by Turkish judicial authorities and aviation officials.

Emergency landing request before radar contact was lost

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the aircraft with tail number 9H-DFJ departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport at 20:10 local time. Approximately 40 minutes later, the crew reported an emergency while flying over the Haymana area.

Shortly after the distress signal, radar contact with the aircraft was completely lost. Gendarmerie teams later located the wreckage about 2 kilometers south of Kesikkavak village.

Senior Libyan military delegation on board

Authorities confirmed that five passengers and three crew members were on board the aircraft.

Passengers killed in the crash:

• Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad – Chief of Staff, Libyan Army

• Alfitori Jribil – Commander of the Libyan Land Forces

• Mahmud Ga Algatiwi

• Mohamed Elassawi

• Mohamed Omar Ahmed

Crew members:

• Denis Pourtau

• Antony Tangarpriganin

• Maria Pappa

All occupants were confirmed dead at the scene.

Presidency: electrical failure triggered emergency alert

Turkey’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran stated that preliminary findings indicate an electrical malfunction.

“The aircraft reported an emergency due to an electrical failure and requested an urgent landing. It was redirected to Esenboğa Airport but disappeared from radar while descending,” Duran said, urging the public to rely only on official statements.

Judicial investigation launched in Turkey

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash.

Four prosecutors have been assigned under the coordination of a deputy chief prosecutor to examine all aspects of the incident, including technical failure, flight records, and maintenance history.

Libya declares national mourning

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths in a statement posted on X, describing the incident as a “tragic loss for the Libyan nation.”

Libya’s Government of National Unity declared three days of official mourning, ordering flags lowered to half-staff and suspending official celebrations nationwide.

Libyan Information Minister Walid Ammar Al-Lafi told Al Jazeera that initial indicators point to a technical malfunction, though final conclusions await official aviation reports.

Investigations ongoing

Turkish authorities said forensic and aviation teams continue to examine the crash site. Officials emphasized that the definitive cause of the accident will be determined after technical analyses and international coordination with relevant aviation bodies.

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