Turkey: A private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff reported an electrical failure and requested an emergency landing shortly before crashing near Ankara, Turkish authorities said on Wednesday.
The Dassault Falcon 50 jet departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport at 17:17 GMT on Tuesday, heading to Tripoli. At 17:33 GMT, it informed air traffic control of an emergency caused by an electrical malfunction, according to Burhanettin Duran, Turkey’s head of communications.
Eight people, including three crew members, were killed in the crash, Libyan and Turkish officials confirmed. Air traffic control redirected the aircraft back to Esenboğa Airport, and emergency procedures were activated. However, the jet disappeared from radar at 17:36 GMT while descending for landing, and contact was lost.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the emergency landing request was made while the plane was flying over Ankara’s Haymana district. The wreckage was later located near Kesikkavak village. Search and rescue teams reached the site promptly, and investigations involving all relevant authorities are ongoing.
Libya’s internationally recognized government confirmed that the fatalities included Army Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad and four members of his entourage. The jet, which was leased and registered in Malta, will undergo a full review of its ownership and technical history as part of the investigation.
