KABUL: Mohammad Al-Haddad, Libya’s Chief of Staff, along with four senior military officials, was killed when their jet crashed while returning from Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
Turkish media outlet TRT, citing Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported on Tuesday night, that the Government of National Unity in Libya has confirmed the deaths of its senior military officials and declared three days of public mourning in their honor.
Among those deceased were the Chief of Ground Forces, the head of Libya’s military industry, a senior advisor to the Chief of Staff, and an official photographer.
According to the Turkish Interior Minister, the “Falcon 50” jet carrying the Libyan military delegation lost contact 30 minutes after takeoff from Esenboğa Airport and attempted an emergency landing.
Yerlikaya mentioned that the wreckage of the private jet was found in the “Himayna” area, south of Ankara.
Following the crash, Ankara’s airspace was closed, and the routes of some flights from Esenboğa Airport were redirected.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding this incident have commenced.
Additionally, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that Mohammad Al-Haddad was returning to Libya from an official trip as part of ongoing coordination between Ankara and Tripoli.