Libyan Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad and eight others perished in a plane crash near Ankara, Türkiye, on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred shortly after their departure from the capital, confirmed by Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah in an official statement.
Dbeibah described the tragedy as "a great loss for the nation," praising al-Haddad and fellow officers as "men who served their country with sincerity and dedication." The crash also claimed the lives of four senior military officials: General Al-Fitouri Gharibil (Head of Ground Forces), Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi (Military Manufacturing Authority), adviser Muhammad Al-Asawi Diab, and military photographer Muhammad Omar Ahmed Mahjoub. Three crew members remain unidentified pending family notifications.
The accident has raised immediate questions about aviation safety protocols for military flights in the region. Analysts suggest the incident may temporarily disrupt Libya's ongoing security coordination efforts, given al-Haddad's central role in stabilizing the country since his 2022 appointment.
