Libyan Military Chief Among 8 Killed in Dassault Falcon 50 Crash Near Ankara

A Dassault Falcon 50 business jet carrying Libya's top military delegation crashed on December 23, 2025, shortly after departing Ankara's Esenboğa Airport on its way to Tripoli, killing all eight people on board. The victims included Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, Libya's Chief of General Staff and the highest-ranking commander in western Libya, four senior Libyan officers, and three French crew members. Turkish authorities confirmed that the aircraft sent an emergency signal indicating a technical failure before losing contact, with wreckage discovered near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district, south of Ankara.

General al-Haddad had recently concluded important defense discussions in Turkey and played a key role in United Nations efforts to unify Libya’s divided military forces. The crash has deeply affected Libya, prompting the Government of National Unity to declare three days of mourning. Rescue operations continued at the crash site while Turkish officials launched an immediate investigation, temporarily closing Ankara airspace and diverting incoming flights.