Five people, including the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, died in an aircraft crash on December 23 (local time), as they were returning home after a visit to T?rkiye.
According to the Associated Press and other sources, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), expressed his condolences in a Facebook statement, saying, "I have received the news that Muhammad Ali Ahmed Alhadad, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, and his close associates have passed away."
Muhammad Ali Ahmed Alhadad, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army. Turkish Ministry of National Defense AFP Yonhap News Agency
Prime Minister Dbeibeh stated that a tragic accident occurred as the Libyan delegation was returning home after an official visit to Ankara, T?rkiye, calling it "a great loss for Libya." He explained that, in addition to Chief of Staff Alhadad, the aircraft was carrying the Commander of the Libyan Ground Forces, the Director of the Military Industry Authority, an aide to the Chief of Staff, and a photographer from the Chief of Staff's office.
Earlier, Ali Yerlikaya, Turkish Minister of the Interior, announced via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that communication with a Falcon 50 business jet carrying Chief of Staff Alhadad and four others was lost at 8:52 p.m. local time.
Minister Yerlikaya explained that the jet had taken off from Ankara Esenbo?a Airport for Tripoli, Libya, at around 8:10 p.m., and after requesting an emergency landing in Haymana, located 74 kilometers from Ankara, communication was lost.
While Turkish authorities did not immediately confirm the fatalities, they announced that wreckage from the Falcon 50 business jet had been found. Local media reported footage showing an explosion near the area where the jet was believed to have transmitted its last signal.
Libyan officials stated that all contact was completely lost about 30 minutes after takeoff due to technical issues.
RIA Novosti, citing the aviation news portal AirportHaber, reported that aircraft wreckage was found near Ankara, that the area was under control, and that search and investigation efforts had begun.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense stated that Chief of Staff Alhadad had visited Ankara and met with Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler and other senior military officials. T?rkiye maintains close relations with the Libyan Government of National Unity, providing economic and military support.
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