The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, has died in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey. The announcement was made by the Head of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. Al-Haddad was reportedly returning from an official visit to Ankara when the incident occurred. Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Dbeibeh expressed his condolences via social media, stating that Al-Haddad and his accompanying delegation perished in a “tragic accident” while returning from Turkey.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the bodies of the victims, including Al-Haddad, have been recovered, along with the aircraft’s black box. Minister Yerlikaya stated that the cause of the crash will be determined after analysis of the black box. A Libyan team consisting of approximately 29 personnel has arrived in Ankara to participate in the investigation.
The black box and voice recorder were recovered early Wednesday morning and are currently being examined. The Turkish Interior Minister assured that the investigation would be comprehensive and transparent, with all findings to be released to the public.
Initial reports indicate that several other high-ranking Libyan officials were also killed in the crash. These include the Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, Staff Brigadier General Al-Fitouri Ghreibil; the Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qataiwi; Advisor to the Chief of General Staff, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab; and the photographer from the General Staff Information Office, Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.
DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
