ANKARA: A plane flying from Turkey’s capital Ankara to Libya’s capital Tripoli crashed near Ankara, killing Libya’s Army Chief along with four other passengers on board, Turkish and Libyan officials confirmed.
According to Turkey’s Interior Ministry, the aircraft departed from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 p.m. Local time. Contact with air traffic control was lost at 8:52 p.m., approximately 30 minutes after takeoff.
The plane reportedly signaled an emergency landing near Haymana, but communication was not re-established. Turkish media later confirmed that the wreckage had been located.
Initial reports indicated a technical malfunction shortly after departure. The aircraft attempted to return to Ankara but crashed before it could make an emergency landing.
Libya’s Prime Minister confirmed the death of Army Chief General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, who was returning to Tripoli after an official visit to Turkey.
Among the other victims were Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qattawi, adviser Al-Assawi, and Lieutenant General Al-Fattouri, along with a member of the chief of staff’s office.
The plane was carrying a total of five people, including senior military officials such as the commander of Libya’s ground forces, the director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, a chief of staff adviser, and an official photographer.
During his visit, the Libyan Army Chief had held meetings with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and his Turkish military counterpart. The crash occurred just one day after the Turkish parliament approved a decision to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Libya for another two years.
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