Libya’ Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al‑Haddad, and seven others died when their business jet crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, officials confirmed.
The Dassault Falcon 50, carrying al‑Haddad, four senior military officials, and three crew members, departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport for Tripoli in the evening.
It went down near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district, about 70 kilometres south of Ankara.
Turkish authorities said the jet reported an electrical malfunction and requested an emergency landing before losing radio contact.
The plane’s black box and voice recorder have been recovered, and investigators are examining the wreckage.
Those on board included Libya’s ground forces commander, the director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, a senior military adviser, a military photographer, and the three crew members.
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Libyan Prime Minister Abdul‑Hamid Dbeibah described the crash as a “tragic accident” and a “great loss” for the country.
Libya has declared three days of national mourning and suspended Independence Day celebrations.
The crash is a major setback for Libya’s military leadership amid ongoing efforts to unify the country’s armed forces under a single command structure.