Libya’s army chief dies in plane crash in Turkey

Who: Libya’s chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and four others; When: 23 December 2025; Where: near Kesikkavak village, Haymana district, Ankara province; What: a Libya-bound Dassault Falcon 50 business jet crashed after departing Ankara; Result: Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed Haddad’s death and loss of the aircraft, while Turkish authorities continue search and investigation.

Key Takeaways

• The jet departed Esenboğa airport at 17:10 GMT and radio contact was lost at 17:52 GMT, according to Turkey’s interior minister.
• Five people were on board: the Libyan chief of staff and four entourage members including the ground forces commander and the head of military manufacturing.
• Wreckage was located near the village of Kesikkavak in Ankara’s Haymana district, Turkish officials said.
• The aircraft is reported as a Dassault Falcon 50-type business jet; authorities say the jet requested an emergency landing over Haymana before contact was lost.
• Libya’s prime minister called the incident a “grave loss” for the nation and its military institutions.
• The crash came one day after Turkey’s parliament extended the deployment mandate of Turkish forces in Libya by two years.
• Turkey has maintained a close military and political relationship with Tripoli’s internationally recognised government since 2020, including personnel deployment and energy cooperation.

Background

The Libyan civil conflict since 2011 has produced competing administrations and armed factions; the Tripoli-based government is internationally recognised and relies on foreign military and diplomatic backing. Turkey emerged as a key partner to Tripoli beginning in 2019–2020, deploying personnel to train and support forces and negotiating maritime and energy agreements that drew objections from Egypt and Greece. The partnership expanded to include military cooperation and high-level defence contacts, with Turkish officials frequently hosting Libyan counterparts in Ankara.

Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad rose to prominence within the Tripoli government’s military structure and carried significant responsibility for ground operations and materiel. His reported visit to Ankara had been publicly announced by Turkey’s defence ministry ahead of the trip, reflecting routine high-level exchanges between the two governments. The broader regional context includes shifting Turkish policy described as “One Libya,” which has increased Ankara’s outreach to eastern Libyan actors as well as continued engagement with Tripoli.

Main Event

On 23 December 2025, a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet bound for Tripoli departed Esenboğa airport at 17:10 GMT. Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, reported on X that the aircraft lost radio contact at 17:52 GMT while flying over Ankara province. Search-and-rescue teams subsequently found debris near Kesikkavak village in the Haymana district, where the wreckage was located.

Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed in the evening that Haddad had died in the crash and said four others were on the plane, naming the group broadly as senior military figures and staff. Turkish authorities indicated the jet issued a request for an emergency landing while over Haymana, but no further contact was established. Officials have not released an official casualty list beyond the prime minister’s statement.

Turkey’s defence ministry had published details of Haddad’s visit earlier that day, noting meetings with Turkish defence officials and commanders, which underscores the official nature of the trip. On the ground near the crash site, Turkish search teams and Libyan diplomatic representatives coordinated recovery and information efforts. Investigators from Turkish agencies are leading the initial on-site work to determine the cause, with wreckage documentation and witness interviews underway.

Analysis & Implications

The death of Libya’s army chief removes a senior military commander at a sensitive moment for Tripoli’s internationally recognised administration. Haddad’s role in coordinating ground forces and procurement made him a central figure; his loss could disrupt ongoing operations and internal military planning in the short term. The substitution of senior officers often prompts a period of internal reassessment and could open contestation over command roles if appointments are contested.

For Ankara, the crash occurred against a backdrop of deep military ties to Tripoli and recent parliamentary approval to extend Turkish deployments in Libya by two years. The incident may complicate Turkey’s operational planning and its diplomatic posture if the Tripoli government seeks enhanced support during a leadership transition. It also places Ankara in the immediate position of handling a high-profile accident involving a visiting foreign military delegation.

Regionally, the loss could affect alliances and bargaining within Libya, particularly as Ankara has simultaneously increased contacts with eastern Libyan actors under its “One Libya” approach. External actors including Egypt and Greece, who have previously criticised Turkish accords with Tripoli, will monitor political ripples. International partners and organisations involved in Libya’s stabilisation may call for transparent investigations to avoid speculation about the crash’s origin.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarises verified operational facts released by Turkish authorities and Libyan officials. Past incidents involving state or VIP business jets are rare in Turkey’s Ankara region; investigators will follow standard protocols including wreckage mapping, flight data recovery if available, and witness collection to establish sequence and probable cause.

Reactions & Quotes

Libya’s prime minister framed the event as a national tragedy and announced confirmation of Haddad’s death. His statement was brief and focused on the immediate human and institutional loss.

This followed a tragic and painful incident while they were returning from an official trip from the Turkish city of Ankara. This grave loss is a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all the people.

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Libyan prime minister

Turkish authorities provided the operational timeline and details about the emergency call and wreckage location; their public posts have been the primary real-time source of technical information. Officials emphasised that investigation and rescue activities were ongoing.

The aircraft made a request for an emergency landing over Haymana, and then contact was lost. We located wreckage near Kesikkavak and continue search-and-rescue and investigative work.

Ali Yerlikaya, Turkey’s interior minister

Unconfirmed

• The precise technical cause of the crash—mechanical failure, human error, weather or external action—has not been established by investigators.
• Reports on the identities of the four other people aboard have been described in general terms by Libyan authorities but a detailed, named passenger manifest has not been published publicly.

Bottom Line

The confirmed death of Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad in the 23 December 2025 Ankara-area crash is a significant disruption for Libya’s internationally recognised government and its military hierarchy. Immediate priorities for Tripoli will include stabilising command, confirming the status of other personnel, and coordinating with Turkey on recovery and investigation efforts.

Longer term, the incident could affect Libya-Turkey defence cooperation and regional diplomacy, especially as Ankara balances its historical Tripoli ties with recent outreach to eastern Libyan factions. A transparent, timely investigation will be essential to prevent speculation and to inform any policy or operational adjustments by domestic and foreign stakeholders.

Sources

• The Guardian (UK newspaper)
• Turkish Ministry of Interior (official statement / X posts)
• Turkish Ministry of National Defence (official announcement)
• Anadolu Agency (Turkish news agency)