General Mohamed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army, was killed in a tragic plane crash in Turkey on the evening of Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The crash occurred shortly after his private business jet, a Falcon 50, took off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport. Al-Haddad was returning to Tripoli following high-level defense meetings with Turkish officials, including the Turkish Defense Minister and his military counterpart, aimed at strengthening military cooperation between the two nations.
The flight reportedly lost radio contact approximately 40 minutes after takeoff. Before communication ceased, the crew managed to issue an emergency landing signal while flying over the Haymana district, about 74 kilometers (45 miles) south of Ankara. Search and rescue teams, including the Turkish gendarmerie, later located the wreckage near the village of Kesikkavak. Local security camera footage broadcast on Turkish television captured a “flash of light” in the night sky at the time contact was lost, suggesting a possible mid-air explosion or sudden catastrophic event.
Tragically, all five individuals on board were killed in the accident. Alongside General al-Haddad, the casualties included several high-ranking Libyan military figures: Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil (Chief of Ground Forces), Mahmoud al-Qatawi (Head of the Military Manufacturing Authority), Mohammed al-Asawi (Military Advisor), and an escort named Mohammed al-Mahjoub. Libyan officials have cited a potential “technical malfunction” as the cause, though Turkish prosecutors and aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the crash.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths in a statement on Facebook, mourning the “great loss for the nation” and the military institution. The news prompted the temporary closure of Ankara’s airport, with several commercial flights diverted as emergency operations took place. Al-Haddad was widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Libya’s fragile stability, serving as the top commander in western Libya and a key negotiator in United Nations-brokered efforts to unify the country’s divided military forces.
International observers have noted that al-Haddad’s death creates a significant leadership vacuum within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Since his appointment in 2020, he had been instrumental in maintaining a delicate peace between various armed factions and had recently been involved in sensitive discussions regarding the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libyan soil. His sudden passing comes at a time when Libya continues to struggle with political fragmentation and delayed national elections.
The incident underscores the deep military ties between Tripoli and Ankara, a relationship that has been a cornerstone of the GNU’s defense strategy. Following the news, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly extended his condolences to the Libyan government, reaffirming Turkey’s support during this period of national mourning. As the investigation continues, questions remain about the future of the military unification process and who will be appointed to succeed al-Haddad in such a critical role.
