Libyan Army Chief Dies in Ankara Crash

The crash of a private jet carrying Libya’s most senior uniformed officers marks a concentrated loss of military leadership following official engagements in Türkiye. A Falcon 50 business jet departed Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 PM on December 23, 2025, bound for Tripoli, and lost radio contact at 8:52 PM, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry.

The aircraft, bearing tail number 9H-DFS, was carrying five passengers, including Libyan Chief of the General Staff General Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad. Earlier the same day, Al-Haddad had met senior Turkish military officials in Ankara, underscoring the official nature of the visit.

“Emergency Landing Alert Received”

The Interior Ministry said an emergency landing alert was received from the aircraft in the vicinity of Haymana, south of the capital, shortly after contact was lost. “Subsequent attempts to re-establish contact with the plane were unsuccessful,” the ministry said in a statement.

Initial information indicated the aircraft suffered an electrical failure shortly after takeoff. The crew issued a mayday call and began turning back toward Esenboğa Airport. As part of emergency procedures, the jet started dumping fuel while preparing for an emergency landing.

Authorities said it has not yet been determined whether an explosion occurred midair during the fuel-dump sequence or after the aircraft went down. Search efforts were focused on the Haymana area as the incident unfolded.

Senior Officers Confirmed Dead

Libyan authorities later confirmed the deaths of four senior military officials: the army chief of staff, the chief of ground forces, the head of military manufacturing, and the chief of staff’s adviser. The confirmation followed Turkish statements that five passengers had been on board at the time of the crash.