Airspace over the Turkish capital was closed on Tuesday evening after a business jet carrying Libya’s top military commander crashed south of Ankara shortly after takeoff. This led to flight diversions, a security response and an ongoing investigation in a NATO member state.
The Falcon 50 business jet was carrying the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad and four others when they lost contact about 30 minutes after departure from Esenboga International Airport, according to Turkish officials quoted by Al-Monitor. Libyan and Turkish authorities have since confirmed Al-Haddad’s death.
The temporary closure of the airspace above Ankara elevated the incident to more than a routine aviation accident. Such measures are typically reserved for situations involving unresolved security risks or the need to safeguard the country’s capital while authorities assess potential follow-on threats.
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The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, shakes hands with the Turkish Chief of Staff, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Turkish Ministry of Defense via Reuters (Reuters)
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said contact with the plane was lost at 8:52 p.m. local time after it sent an emergency landing notification near Haymana, about 75 kilometers south of the capital. The aircraft, tail number 9H-DFJ, had taken off at 8:10 p.m. bound for Tripoli.
Following the loss of contact, Turkish authorities closed Ankara’s airspace as a precaution and diverted several commercial flights from Esenboga airport, according to Turkish broadcaster NTV and flight tracking data cited by TRT. Search and rescue teams were deployed to the suspected crash area.
The crash occurred just hours after Al-Haddad completed an official visit to Ankara. The Turkish Defense Ministry had previously announced that the Libyan army chief met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Turkish Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and other senior commanders as part of the ongoing military and security coordination between Turkey and Libya, TRT said.
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Falcon 50 sent a distress signal after taking off from Ankara; The search is underway near Haymana, Turkey. Photo: Anadolu Agency Video via Reuters. (Video from Anadolu Agency via Reuters)
Türkiye Today reported that the visit underlined the deepening of defense ties between Ankara and the Libyan government in Tripoli, adding sensitivity to the incident given the seniority of those on board the plane and its timing immediately after high-level meetings.
The Prime Minister of the UN-recognized Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, said he had received news of the death of the Libyan army chief of staff after Al-Haddad’s plane lost radio contact over Ankara, Turkey. Reuters reported this.
Dbeibah, who said he mourned Al-Haddad’s death, added that the army chief was accompanied by others on board the plane, including military officials. No additional details about the identities or circumstances of the other passengers were released.
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Ankara Airport, Turkey, Thursday, August 1, 2024. (AP photo)
Turkish officials have not yet publicly revealed the cause of the crash. There are no official statements indicating sabotage or hostile fire, and any conclusions beyond a reported in-flight emergency remain pending verification.
Search and recovery efforts continued and Turkish authorities said further information would be released once confirmed.
