Libyan Military Chief Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad killed in plane crash in Turkey

Libya’s top military commander in western Libya, Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad , was killed along with four others when their private jet crashed near Ankara, Turkey , on Tuesday evening, officials said.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths in a Facebook statement, calling the incident a “tragic accident” and describing al-Haddad’s death as a “great loss” for Libya. The delegation was returning from an official visit to Ankara, where al-Haddad had met Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other officials.

Turkish authorities said the Dassault Falcon 50 business jet took off from Esenboga Airport at 8:30 p.m. local time and lost contact approximately 30 to 40 minutes later after reporting an electrical malfunction . The aircraft issued an emergency landing signal near Haymana , south of Ankara, before communication ceased. Security camera footage broadcast by local television stations showed a bright explosion lighting up the night sky , believed to be the moment of impact.

Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said wreckage had been located near Ankara. Officials said preliminary information points to a technical failure , adding that flight recorders have been recovered for analysis. Authorities urged the public to avoid speculation, saying there is no evidence so far of sabotage or foul play .

The crash led to the temporary closure of Ankara’s airport, with several flights diverted. Turkey has launched a formal investigation, working in coordination with Libyan authorities.

Born in 1967 in Misrata , al-Haddad rose through the military ranks to become Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army in 2020 . A defector from the Gaddafi regime during the 2011 uprising , he played a central role in UN-backed efforts to unify Libya’s divided military and was active in military diplomacy with countries including Turkey and Italy.

Libya’s Government of National Unity declared three days of national mourning, as condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Analysts say al-Haddad’s death could complicate ongoing efforts to stabilize and reunify Libya’s armed forces.