The death of Libyan Chief of Staff, General Mohammed Ali al-Haddad, along with four of his aides, in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey, continues to reverberate throughout Libya and raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident. The recovery of the aircraft’s black box, announced by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, may shed light on the details of the tragedy.
The Libyan delegation, led by al-Haddad, was on an official visit to Ankara, where they met with their Turkish counterparts and a number of military leaders, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense earlier this week.
Where did the crash occur? The plane carrying the Libyan Chief of Staff and his accompanying officers and officials crashed approximately half an hour after taking off from Ankara Airport. The Turkish Interior Minister stated that gendarmerie forces were able to reach the wreckage and recover the bodies about two kilometers from the village of ‘Kusikkavak’ in the Haymana district, southwest of Ankara.
Who Perished in the Incident? Those killed in the crash included Libyan Chief of Staff General Mohammed Ali al-Haddad, his advisor Mohammed al-Asawi Diab, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Staff Major General Al-Fitouri Gribel, Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Qattiwi, and photographer in the General Chief of Staff’s media office, Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, while returning from Ankara. The Turkish Interior Minister stated that all eight people on board the plane died in the accident.
When did the accident happen? The plane carrying the Libyan officers and officials crashed on Tuesday evening, approximately 37 minutes after taking off from the airport. The Turkish Interior Minister stated that the plane took off at 17:10 GMT and contact was lost at 17:52 GMT, while en route from Ankara to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
Turkish officials reported a large explosion was heard after the plane crashed, suggesting it may have been caused by ignited fuel. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the crash. DZWatch will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
