A private jet crashed near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday evening. General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Libyan army chief, died in the accident. Five other high-ranking military officers also lost their lives. The plane was flying to Tripoli. It lost contact with air traffic control soon after leaving Esenboğa Airport. This sad event has greatly affected Libya. It has also raised serious questions about aviation safety.
The Libyan group was in Turkey for an important visit. They wanted to improve military and security cooperation. They talked about defence. This is important because Libya is working to stabilize. Turkey also recently increased its military presence there. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh said Libya lost dedicated men.
Turkish authorities searched for the missing plane. They found the wreckage. The plane left Ankara's Esenboğa Airport. It was found near Kesikkavak village. Two F-16 jets helped the search. Airspace was temporarily closed over Ankara.
The business jet was a Falcon 50 model. It was operated by Falcon Air. The plane likely had an emergency before it disappeared. The exact reason for the crash is not yet known. Turkish aviation authorities have started an investigation. The Libyan and Turkish military staffs are working together. They will check all possible causes.
The deaths of General al-Haddad and his team are a big loss for Libya's army. They were in Ankara to strengthen defence ties. This tragic event makes these relationships sad. We need to understand why it happened. This will help prevent similar accidents in the future. Libya is now in a period of national mourning.