Libyan army chief’s body repatriated after plane crash

Saturday 27 December 2025 - 11:00

By: Sahili Aya

Libyan army chief’s body repatriated after plane crash

The body of Libyan army chief Mohammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, along with those of his advisers killed in a plane crash near Ankara, will be repatriated on Saturday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced.

The Falcon 50 aircraft carrying General Al-Haddad, four of his advisers, and three crew members crashed less than forty minutes after takeoff on Tuesday evening. A farewell ceremony was held at Murted Air Base near Ankara, attended by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler and senior military officials.

The plane’s black box was recovered the day after the crash in an agricultural area. Turkish authorities initially reported an electrical failure onboard and launched an investigation. The examination of the flight recorders, including the black box, will be conducted by a neutral country, with Germany selected for the task, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.

Eyewitnesses reported an explosion, though it remains unclear whether it occurred before or during the crash. The aircraft had been fully refueled for its flight to Libya. Two French nationals were among the crew, operating the flight through Malta-based Harmony Jets, which maintains its fleet in France.

In Libya, both rival governments—the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and the eastern administration controlled by Marshal Khalifa Haftar—declared three days of national mourning following Al-Haddad’s death, a rare gesture of unity. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has struggled with political instability and competing executive authorities.

Turkey, a longtime supporter of Tripoli, has strengthened ties with Haftar over the past year, reflecting evolving regional alliances.