Turkish Plane Crash: Libya's Top Military Commander and Four Others Killed

A devastating plane crash in Turkey has claimed the lives of Libya's top military commander, Gen Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and four other high-ranking officials. The private jet, a Falcon 50 business aircraft, crashed near the town of Kesikkavak in Haymana, approximately 70 kilometers south of Ankara, after reporting an electrical problem shortly after takeoff. According to Turkish officials, the aircraft requested an emergency landing but lost contact with air traffic control during its descent. The plane had departed from Ankara's Esenboga Airport at around 8:30 pm local time and disappeared from radar about 40 minutes later. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the tragic accident, describing the deaths as a 'great loss' for Libya. Gen al-Haddad was a key figure in the country's efforts to unify its divided military under the United Nations' leadership. Those killed alongside Gen al-Haddad include Gen Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of the ground forces, Brig Gen Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, who headed the military manufacturing authority, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an adviser to the chief of staff, and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer attached to the chief of staff's office. The identities of the three crew members on board have not been released. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, but preliminary reports suggest a technical malfunction may have contributed to the tragedy. HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of videos circulating on social media, which appear to show the moment of the crash.