Day After Pakistan Defense Deal, Libyan Army Chief Dies In Plane Crash Near Ankara Turkey

A Dassault Falcon 50 business jet carrying Libya’s Chief Of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, crashed south of Ankara shortly after departing the Turkish capital, killing everyone on board, according to Turkish and Libyan officials. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s flight-data recorder and cockpit voice recorder as Turkey launched a formal investigation into what officials initially described as a technical malfunction that escalated into a fatal emergency.

What Happened In The Final Minutes

According to Turkish officials cited in multiple reports, the Falcon 50 took off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport bound for Tripoli but soon reported an electrical emergency and requested an emergency landing. Radar contact was lost minutes later while the aircraft was descending, and the wreckage was later located in the Haymana district south of Ankara. Turkish authorities confirmed that the aircraft’s black boxes have been found and are now being examined by investigators.

The crash site was reported near the village area of Kesikkavak/Haymana, where search-and-rescue teams were deployed in large numbers overnight. Libyan officials also dispatched a delegation to Turkey to participate in the inquiry and coordinate repatriation procedures.

Who Was On Board

Contrary to early claims circulating online that “five” people had died, authorities and major news organizations confirmed eight fatalities — five passengers and three crew members. Those killed included Lt. Gen. Al-Haddad and other senior Libyan military officials, along with the flight crew.

Libya’s Government Of National Unity (GNU) announced three days of mourning, while senior Libyan and Turkish officials issued condolences, describing the crash as a major blow to Libya’s military leadership.

The Ankara Visit And Libya–Turkey Defense Ties

Turkish and international reporting said the Libyan delegation had been in Ankara for defense and military-cooperation talks with Turkish counterparts, reflecting the close security relationship Turkey has developed with Libya’s Tripoli-based authorities since the 2019 security agreements. Turkey’s parliament has also recently extended aspects of its military engagement, underscoring how central Libya remains to Ankara’s regional policy.

Why Pakistan’s New Libya Arms Deal Is Part Of The Backdrop — But Not The Crash Trip

The crash occurred just after Pakistan finalized and publicized a major arms agreement with Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), aligned with commander Khalifa Haftar. According to reports, the deal is valued at roughly $4.6 billion over about 2.5 years, and includes JF-17 fighter jets, Super Mushak trainer aircraft, and additional land, air, and naval military equipment.

The Pakistan–LNA deal has drawn attention because Libya remains under a United Nations arms embargo and continues to be politically and militarily divided between the U.N.-backed GNU in the west and the LNA in the east and south.

However, officials and reporting on the Ankara crash indicated the Libyan delegation was in Turkey for Libya–Turkey talks, not Pakistan-related meetings. While the timing has fueled online speculation, investigators have emphasized the reported technical fault and the need to rely on flight-recorder evidence before drawing conclusions.

What Investigators Will Look At Next

With both black boxes recovered, investigators are expected to focus on the sequence of electrical warnings, the aircraft’s systems status during the attempted return, pilot communications with air traffic control, and any maintenance or leasing arrangements linked to the jet. Reports also indicate the aircraft was leased and registered in Malta, adding another layer to the ownership and maintenance trail under review.

Turkish prosecutors have been assigned to the case, and officials confirmed the investigation is continuing in close coordination with Libyan representatives.