Additional Coverage:
Ankara Airspace Shut Down After Libyan Military Chief’s Jet Crashes
Ankara, Turkey – Airspace over the Turkish capital was temporarily closed Tuesday night following the crash of a business jet carrying Libya’s top military commander. The incident, which occurred shortly after takeoff south of Ankara, prompted flight diversions, an emergency security response, and an ongoing investigation in the NATO member state.
The Falcon 50 business jet was transporting Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of Libya’s armed forces, and four other individuals when it lost contact approximately 30 minutes after departing Esenboga International Airport. Turkish officials, cited by Al-Monitor, confirmed the loss of contact, and both Libyan and Turkish authorities have since confirmed Al-Haddad’s death.
The temporary shutdown of Ankara’s airspace elevated the incident beyond a routine aviation accident. Such measures are typically implemented during situations involving unresolved security risks or the need to secure the nation’s capital while authorities assess potential follow-on threats.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that contact with the aircraft was lost at 8:52 p.m. local time after it transmitted an emergency landing notification near Haymana, roughly 75 kilometers south of the capital. The jet, tail number 9H-DFJ, had departed at 8:10 p.m. with Tripoli as its destination.
Following the loss of contact, Turkish authorities closed Ankara’s airspace as a precautionary measure and diverted multiple commercial flights away from Esenboga Airport, according to Turkish broadcaster NTV and flight tracking data. Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the suspected crash area.
The crash occurred just hours after Al-Haddad concluded an official visit to Ankara. Turkey’s Defense Ministry had earlier 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 ongoing military and security coordination between Turkey and Libya.
Türkiye Today reported that the visit underscored deepening defense ties between Ankara and Libya’s Tripoli-based government, adding sensitivity to the incident given the seniority of those aboard the aircraft and the timing immediately following high-level meetings.
Abdulhamid Dbeibah, the prime minister of Libya’s U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity, expressed his condolences, stating he had received news of Al-Haddad’s death after the plane lost radio contact above Ankara. Dbeibah added that other military officials were also on board the aircraft, though no additional details about their identities or conditions have been released.
Turkish officials have not yet publicly detailed the cause of the crash. No official statements have indicated sabotage or hostile fire, and any conclusions beyond a reported in-flight emergency remain pending verification.
Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and Turkish authorities have stated that further information will be released as it is confirmed.