Ankara/Tripoli, December 24, 2025 – Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Chief of General Staff of Libya's armed forces aligned with the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, died along with four senior military officials and three crew members when their private Dassault Falcon 50 jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Ankara's Esenboğa Airport on Tuesday evening, December 23.
The crash occurred in the rural Haymana district, approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Ankara, near Kesikkavak village. Turkish authorities recovered the wreckage overnight, and the black box has been retrieved for analysis.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X that the aircraft departed at 17:10 GMT (20:10 local time) en route to Tripoli, with radio contact lost at 17:52 GMT. The jet issued an emergency signal over Haymana, requesting landing due to a reported electrical failure, but communication ceased shortly after.
Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey's presidency communications directorate, confirmed the emergency was triggered by an "electrical failure" about 16 minutes into the flight. Security footage broadcast on Turkish media captured a bright explosion in the night sky near the crash site. A local resident in Haymana described hearing a "big sound of explosion, like a bomb," to AFP.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths on Facebook, stating: "It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army’s chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad." He described it as a "tragic accident" during the delegation's return from an official visit, calling it a "great loss" for the nation.
The GNU declared three days of national mourning and directed the defense minister to send a delegation to Ankara for coordination.
- The victims included:
- Lt. Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil (Chief of Staff of Ground Forces)
- Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatioui (Director of Military Manufacturing Authority)
- Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab (Advisor to the Chief of Staff)
- Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub (Media office photographer)
Three crew members also perished; their identities have not been released. The jet was reportedly leased and registered in Malta.
General al-Haddad, appointed in 2020, had concluded high-level talks in Ankara earlier Tuesday with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, and other commanders. The meetings focused on strengthening military cooperation, amid Turkey's ongoing support for the Tripoli government and recent efforts to engage eastern factions.
Turkey, a key ally of the GNU since intervening in 2019-2020, has provided training, equipment, and diplomatic backing. The visit came a day after Turkey's parliament extended its military mandate in Libya for two years.
Initial Turkish investigations point to technical failure, with no indications of sabotage. Ankara's chief prosecutor's office has launched a probe, assigning four prosecutors. The black box will be analyzed, potentially in a neutral country.
Al-Haddad was regarded as a unifying figure in Libya's fractured military landscape, respected across divisions for resisting militia influence and advocating professionalization. Even eastern commander Khalifa Haftar expressed condolences, highlighting the loss's national impact.
The incident temporarily closed Esenboğa Airport, diverting flights. Libya's ambassador to Ankara visited the site.
This tragedy underscores ongoing instability in post-2011 Libya, where efforts to integrate rival forces continue under UN mediation. Al-Haddad's death may complicate unification talks.
