A Deadly Crash: Libya's Military Chief and Others Lose Their Lives in Turkey

Incident Details

• Location: Near the village of Kesikkavak, Turkey
• Aircraft: Falcon 50 business jet
• Destination: Libya
• Time: Just after takeoff from Ankara

The plane sent out a distress signal before vanishing from radar.

Casualties

• General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad: Key figure in Libya's military
• Six others: High-ranking officers and crew members

Purpose of Visit

• Defense talks to strengthen military ties between Libya and Turkey

Reactions

• Libya's Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah: Called the crash a "great loss"
• Turkish authorities: Suspect a technical malfunction

Investigation

• Turkish prosecutors: Four assigned to investigate
• Libyan team: To be sent to Ankara for collaboration

Broader Context

• Libya's instability: Ongoing chaos since the 2011 uprising
• Turkey's involvement: Supports western-based government, improving relations with eastern-based government
• Recent development: Turkey extended the mandate for its troops in Libya

Impact

• Questions raised: Safety and cooperation between Turkey and Libya
• Reminder: Risks and complexities of international military cooperation