The remains of Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al‑Haddad, and seven others killed in a plane crash in Turkey are set to return to Libya for funeral proceedings.
A ceremony was held on 27 December 2025 at Murted Air Base, near Ankara, where Turkish defence officials and Libyan representatives paid tribute to the fallen officers.
The coffins, draped in Libyan flags, were loaded onto a transport aircraft bound for Tripoli.
Al‑Haddad and his delegation died on 23 December 2025 when their Dassault Falcon 50 jet crashed shortly after takeoff while returning from defence talks in Ankara.
The crash claimed the lives of five senior military officials and three crew members.
Turkish authorities recovered the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders, which are now under investigation.
Initial reports point to a possible electrical malfunction as the cause.
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Libya’s Government of National Unity has declared three days of national mourning, with funeral ceremonies planned in Tripoli and Misrata, al‑Haddad’s hometown.
Security has been tightened in the capital ahead of the events.
Al‑Haddad, a key figure in efforts to unify Libya’s fragmented armed forces, played a central role in strengthening defence cooperation with international partners.
His death has drawn condolences from Libyan political leaders, rival factions, and international partners, including the U.S. Embassy.