Libya’s army chief of staff, Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been confirmed killed after the Dassault Falcon 50 business jet carrying him crashed near Ankara, Turkey, on December 23, 2025, in an incident that unfolded only hours after he met senior Turkish defense officials, authorities said.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the Falcon 50 departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport for Tripoli at about 20:10 local time. About 42 minutes later, at 20:52 local time, controllers lost contact with the aircraft after the crew requested an emergency landing.
Libya’s prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, said he received confirmation of al-Haddad’s death, adding that four other people were aboard the aircraft. Turkish and Libyan officials did not immediately release the names or roles of the other passengers.
Turkish authorities later located the wreckage south of the capital near the Haymana district, according to early official statements. The incident triggered a rapid response from Turkish emergency services as investigators began working to determine why the aircraft declared an emergency and then disappeared from radar.
The crash occurred after al-Haddad held talks in Ankara with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and other military officials. The visit underscored the close security relationship between Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli.
Al-Haddad’s death removes a key figure from Libya’s military and political landscape at a time when the country continues to navigate competing power centers and efforts to unify national institutions. International mediators have long treated the unification of Libya’s military structures as a central step toward broader stability.
Aviation investigators will focus on the Falcon 50’s flight profile, communications, and systems history, as well as the weather and any operational factors on the route out of Ankara. Officials have not announced a cause, and authorities have not indicated any evidence of foul play.
Turkey diverted flights away from Ankara during the initial response, according to reports from the scene. Additional updates are expected as officials confirm the passenger list, release recovery details, and outline the formal investigative process.
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