News Article
Libyan Military Chief Killed in Private Jet Crash in Turkey
Published
Dec 23, 2025 at 03:00 PM EST
updated
Dec 23, 2025 at 05:18 PM EST
A private jet carrying Libya’s top military commander and four other senior officers crashed Tuesday evening after taking off from Turkey’s capital, killing everyone on board, Libyan officials said. Authorities in Libya said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction, while Turkish officials said an investigation is underway.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths of Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, Libya’s military chief, and four others in a statement posted on Facebook. He described the crash as a “tragic accident” that occurred as the delegation was returning home from an official visit to Ankara and called the loss “a great one” for Libya.
Why It Matters
Turkey has been a key ally of Libya’s western-based government and deployed troops to the country following a 2019 security and military cooperation agreement with authorities in Tripoli. Ankara has also taken steps in recent years to improve relations with Libya’s eastern-based administration.
The visit by the Libyan delegation came just one day after Turkey’s parliament approved a two-year extension of the mandate allowing Turkish troops to remain in Libya, underscoring the strategic importance of the relationship between the two countries. The crash marks a significant blow to Libya’s military leadership at a time when efforts to stabilize and reunify the country remain fragile.
What To Know
Those killed alongside al-Haddad included Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces; Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, who led the military manufacturing authority; Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an adviser to the chief of staff; and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer with the chief of staff’s office, Libyan authorities said.
The Falcon 50 business jet had departed from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday en route to Libya when air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft roughly 40 minutes later, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Before communications were cut, the plane transmitted an emergency landing signal near Haymana, a rural district about 43 miles south of the capital.
Wreckage of the aircraft was later found near the village of Kesikkavak in the Haymana area, Turkish authorities said. Turkey did not immediately confirm the identities or number of fatalities, but Libyan officials said all five people aboard were killed. It was not immediately clear how many crew members were on the plane at the time of the crash.
Security camera footage broadcast on Turkish television appeared to show a sudden flash lighting up the night sky near Haymana, suggesting a possible explosion at the time of impact.
The Libyan delegation had traveled to Ankara for high-level defense talks aimed at strengthening military cooperation between the two countries, Turkish officials said. During the visit, al-Haddad met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other senior officials.
Al-Haddad was the most senior military commander in western Libya and a central figure in United Nations-backed efforts to reunify Libya’s fractured armed forces. Libya’s military and political institutions have remained divided since the country descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Following the loss of contact with the aircraft, Ankara’s airport was temporarily closed as a precaution, and several flights were diverted to other destinations, Turkish media reported. The airport reopened later in the night.
What People Are Saying
Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said in a statement, "This followed a tragic and painful incident while they were returning from an official trip from the Turkish city of Ankara. This grave loss is a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all the people."
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X, "The wreckage of the aircraft that took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport en route to Tripoli has been reached by our Gendarmerie 2 km south of Kesikkavak Village in Haymana district. The public will be informed of developments."
What Happens Next
Turkey’s Justice Ministry said four prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the crash, a standard procedure in aviation incidents involving fatalities. Turkish broadcaster NTV and other local media reported that the aircraft may have suffered an electrical failure and attempted to return to Esenboga Airport before communication was lost.
Libya’s government said it will send a technical team to Ankara to cooperate with Turkish authorities in the investigation.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
12/23/25, 5:18 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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