Ankara, Turkey – The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday evening that search and rescue teams had found the wreckage of the plane
that was carrying the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Government of National Unity Armed Forces,
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad.
This came hours after contact was lost with her following
her departure from Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement published on his X platform account
that Turkish gendarmerie forces were able to reach the site of the plane wreckage.
This is about two kilometers south of the village of Kesikavak
in the Himana district, south of the capital Ankara.
He explained that the plane was en route from Ankara to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, before contact with it was lost.
Accident details
Turkish authorities had previously announced the loss of radio signal
for a private Falcon 50 aircraft, registration number 9H-DFJ.
It took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 PM local time,
before contact was lost with it at 8:52 PM,
with five people on board, including the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army.
Request for emergency landing
Yerli Kaya stated that the plane sent a request for an emergency landing near the Hemana region,
but contact with it was subsequently lost.
This prompted the authorities to activate emergency plans and launch extensive search operations
with the participation of the gendarmerie and emergency forces.
In the same context, Turkish media reported that flight tracking data
The diversion of several flights away from Esenboğa Airport in Ankara has shown
This was a precautionary measure taken following the loss of contact with the aircraft.
Official visit to Ankara
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad had visited Ankara as an official guest.
He was received by the Turkish Chief of the General Staff,
Lieutenant General Selçuk Bayraktar Oğlu, in an official military ceremony.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that the two sides held bilateral meetings
and meetings at the delegation level.
This, with the participation of the leaders of the ground forces of both countries,
addressed ways to enhance military cooperation.
No official details have yet been released regarding the fate
of the plane’s passengers or the circumstances of the accident.
Turkish authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing to uncover
the reasons for the crash and the circumstances of the flight.
