Ankara, Dec 24: Libya’s Army Chief of Staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and four other senior military officials were killed in an air crash near Ankara, Turkey, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed.
The crash occurred on Tuesday as the officials were returning from a visit to Turkey. Prime Minister Dbeibah described the incident as a “tragic accident” and said it was a significant loss for the nation, the military establishment, and all Libyans.
“The men we have lost served their country with sincerity and dedication and were an example of discipline, responsibility, and national commitment,” he said.
Other victims included the ground forces chief of staff, Al-Fitouri Gharibil, the director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, an adviser to al-Haddad, Muhammad Al-Asawi Diab, and a military photographer, Muhammad Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.
A senior Turkish official reported that three crew members also died. The private jet reportedly sought an emergency landing after reporting an electrical malfunction, according to Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s presidency communications directorate.
“Initial reports from the investigation rule out any sabotage. The crash was caused by a technical failure,” a Turkish official told Al Jazeera.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya added that the wreckage of the business jet, which departed Ankara’s Esenboga airport for Tripoli, was located approximately two kilometres south of Kesikkavak village in Haymana district.
During the visit to Turkey, al-Haddad had met with his Turkish counterpart and other military commanders, highlighting the strategic engagement between the two nations.