Libyan Military Officials Visit Ankara Crash Site as Investigation into Fatal Jet Crash

Libyan military officials have visited the crash site near Ankara where a Falcon 50 business jet crashed shortly after takeoff, killing Libya’s Chief of General Staff, General Mohamed Ali Al-Haddad, his delegation, and three crew members. Turkish authorities have recovered the plane’s black box and cockpit voice recorder and begun analysis to determine the cause, while more than 400 personnel continue search and investigation efforts.

A delegation of military officials from Libya has visited the crash site near the Turkish capital, Ankara, where a plane crashed on Tuesday, killing Libya’s Chief of General Staff, General Mohamed Ali Al-Haddad, members of his delegation, and three crew members. The visit forms part of ongoing efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident and to support the investigation being led by Turkish authorities.
The Libyan officials arrived in Ankara on Wednesday before travelling to Kesikkavak, an area in Ankara’s Haymana district where the aircraft went down. At the location, they were taken to the zone where the wreckage of the jet is scattered. Search, recovery, and investigation operations are continuing in the area, with security personnel maintaining control of the site while technical teams carry out detailed examinations.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the plane’s black box and cockpit voice recorder were recovered early on Wednesday. He said the wreckage is spread across an area measuring roughly three square kilometres, or about 1.16 square miles, highlighting the severity of the crash. Yerlikaya added that the examination and evaluation of the recovered devices have already begun, noting that the data obtained from them is expected to be critical in determining the exact cause of the accident.
According to the interior minister, more than 400 personnel are currently working at the scene, supported by 103 ground vehicles and seven air vehicles. These teams include search and rescue workers, security forces, and aviation experts tasked with gathering evidence and ensuring that all necessary procedures are followed during the investigation.
Yerlikaya also disclosed that a 22-member Libyan delegation has arrived in Ankara. The group includes five relatives of the victims, representatives from Libya’s defence ministry, and officials from the Interior Ministry. The presence of family members and senior officials underscores the importance of the incident for Libya, as authorities await answers regarding the cause of the crash.
“We are also very curious about the cause of the crash, but this data will reveal what happened, and the authorities will share the findings with you,” Yerlikaya said, stressing that transparency will be maintained once the investigation reaches its conclusions.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a Falcon 50-type business jet. It crashed after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport while en route to Tripoli, the Libyan capital. All those on board were killed in the crash, marking a significant loss for Libya’s military leadership and prompting close cooperation between Libyan and Turkish authorities as the investigation continues.