A serious plane crash in Turkey has caused the death of the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Haddad, along with other high-ranking military officials. The news was confirmed by the President of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who described the event as a tragedy of enormous magnitude for Libya and its military institution.
According to official reports, the aircraft carrying the military personnel crashed near Ankara, shortly after taking off from Esenboga airport, while it was returning to Libya.
The victims of the crash
The crash also claimed the lives of the Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Al-Fitouri Ghribil, the Director of the Military Production Agency, Brigadier Mahmoud Al-Qatwi, the advisor to the Chief of Staff Mohammed Al-Aswi, and the photographer of the Chief of Staff's press office, Mohammed Mahjoub.
In a message shared on social media, Dbeibah expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, emphasizing how the deceased military personnel represented “an example of discipline, professionalism, and national responsibility,” significantly contributing to the stability of the Libyan armed forces during a complex phase in the country's history.
Wreckage found, operations underway
The wreckage of the plane was located south of the village of Kavak, in the province of Ankara, in the area where communications with the aircraft were lost a few minutes after takeoff. Turkish search and rescue teams quickly reached the crash site, initiating ground operations in coordination with a Libyan crisis cell.
In the hours following the crash, images showing the debris of the aircraft scattered in the rural area affected by the incident were shared on social networks.
An investigation opened in Turkey
The Turkish Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunc, announced the opening of a judicial investigation to determine the causes of the incident and verify any responsibilities related to the crash of the private jet carrying the Libyan military personnel.
A hard blow for Libyan political and military balance
The death of the Chief of Staff comes at a particularly delicate moment for the Government of National Unity. Mohammed Al-Haddad was considered a very popular and influential figure in the country, as well as a point of reference within the armed forces. On several occasions, he had spoken in favor of the withdrawal of all foreign forces present in Libya, regardless of their origin.
According to various sources, his name was also considered among the most authoritative in view of a possible political agreement with Benghazi and in relation to future joint military exercises, such as the Africa Lion maneuvers planned with U.S. troops.
The incident finally fits into a phase of political transition, just days before the anticipated announcement of a government reshuffle in Tripoli, already announced last week. A loss that risks having significant repercussions on Libya's institutional and military balance.
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