Air travel

Libya's Army Chief Dies in Plane Crash Near Ankara

Was Libya's army chief's death a convenient elimination for rivals, or simply the result of an electrical malfunction?

Published DEC 24 2025

Libya's Army Chief Dies in Plane Crash Near Ankara

Story

Above: Rescuers workers at the site in Haymana district in Ankara, on Dec. 24. Image credit: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Libya's army chief, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, died in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, along with four senior military officials and three crew members. The crash occurred after the private Falcon 50 jet took off from Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
Ynet
Libya Observer
Turkish officials reported that the aircraft requested an emergency landing after notifying air traffic control of an electrical fault, but contact was lost while the plane was descending. The wreckage was found near Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district.
Daily Sabah
Anadolu Agency
Initial investigations by Turkish authorities ruled out sabotage and pointed to a technical failure as the cause of the crash. The black box and voice recorder from the jet were recovered and examination processes were initiated by relevant authorities.
The News International
Al Jazeera
The four other officers killed were Gen. Al-Fitouri Gharibil, head of Libya's ground forces; Brig. General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi of the Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, an adviser; and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer.
CNN
The US Sun
Libya's Government of National Unity declared three days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast and official ceremonies suspended. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh called the incident a “great loss” for the nation.
TRT World
The News International
BBC News
The Libyan delegation had been in Ankara for high-level defense talks with Turkish officials, including Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler. The crash occurred one day after Turkey's parliament extended the mandate for Turkish troop deployment in Libya.
Al Jazeera
The Economic Times
South China Morning Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The timing of Libya's army chief's death raises serious questions given it occurred just days after Pakistan finalized a $4 billion arms deal with his political rival Khalifa Haftar, violating U.N. sanctions. Al-Haddad actively opposed Haftar's military campaigns and represented the U.N.-recognized government, making his sudden removal suspiciously convenient for eastern factions gaining global military support.

Indiablooms

The Economic Times

Narrative B

The crash resulted from a documented electrical malfunction reported to air traffic control minutes after takeoff, with investigators recovering both flight recorders for technical analysis. Turkish authorities initiated emergency protocols immediately when the crew requested an emergency landing, and forensic teams are conducting a thorough investigation with full Libyan government cooperation.