Libyan military chief among 5 killed in Türkiye plane crash

Libya’s Chief of General Staff and four others were killed when a private jet crashed in central Türkiye while returning from an official trip, according to Libyan and Turkish officials.

The crash occurred Tuesday evening after a Falcon 50 business jet departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport bound for Tripoli, Libya, and lost contact shortly after takeoff, according to Turkish authorities cited by Anadolu Agency.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh confirmed the deaths in a statement, identifying Gen. Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, the chief of the Libyan army’s general staff, among those killed.

The other victims were identified as Lt. Gen. Al-Faitouri Ghribil, chief of staff of the ground forces; Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qattawi, head of the Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohamed Al-Essawi Diab, an adviser to the chief of staff; and Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a photographer with the chief of staff’s media office.

According to Turkish officials, the jet transmitted an emergency landing alert near the Haymana district before communications were lost. The wreckage was later found about 1.2 miles south of Kesikkavak village, according to Anadolu Agency.

Authorities said the aircraft was carrying five passengers. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said prosecutors have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.

“This grave tragedy is a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all Libyans,” Dbeibeh said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of those we lost and to their colleagues in the armed forces.”

🚨 Wreckage of Libya-bound private jet carrying Libyan army chief that departed Ankara has been found in Ankara’s Haymana district: Turkish interior minister https://t.co/rNv8JOpyfr pic.twitter.com/uejNIaPwdR

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 23, 2025