(Turkey, 24th) — Libyan Army Chief of Staff Haddad ended an official visit to Turkey on the 23rd and was killed in a plane crash on his way home within Turkish territory.
The French-made Dassault Falcon 50 business jet took off from the Turkish capital, Ankara, that evening before crashing. The wreckage was found near a village in the Haymana district, about 70 kilometers south of Ankara. Haddad, along with 4 accompanying personnel and 3 crew members, all died in the crash.
Turkey's Presidential Communications Director, Duran, posted on social media on the 23rd that the aircraft carrying the Libyan military leader had reported an electrical malfunction before the crash.
Duran stated that before the accident, the aircraft reported an electrical malfunction to Turkey’s air traffic control center and requested an emergency landing.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Yerlikaya, said in a statement that ground personnel were subsequently unable to reestablish communication with the aircraft.
Libyan Government of National Unity Prime Minister Dbeibah stated that this incident is a heavy loss for the Libyan nation and military, emphasizing that the government will investigate the cause of the accident and take necessary measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Since the Gaddafi regime was overthrown by force in 2011, Libya has fallen into turmoil. Currently, the United Nations-recognized Government of National Unity and its allied armed forces control several areas in western Libya, while the House of Representatives, allied with the “Libyan National Army”, controls most of the eastern and southern regions, with both sides remaining in a tense standoff.