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Search and rescue (SAR) operations continued at first light at the crash site of the Falcon 50 aircraft carrying Libya's Army Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Haddad and his military delegation near Ankara.
The private jet carrying Libyan Army Chief of Staff General Mohammed Ali al-Haddad, four accompanying officials, and three crew members took off from Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 8:17 p.m. on Tuesday. At 8:33 p.m., the aircraft reported an electrical malfunction to air traffic control and requested an emergency landing.
"The aircraft was redirected to Esenboga Airport by air traffic control and necessary measures began at the airport. The aircraft, descending for emergency landing, disappeared from radar screens at 8:36 p.m. and contact was lost thereafter," according to a statement by Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.
The wreckage was located south of Kesikkavak village in Haymana district. Despite heavy overnight rainfall and fog, search and rescue operations intensified with the first light of day.
Gendarmerie teams established a security perimeter around the crash site, preventing civilian access.
"Due to muddy terrain conditions in the area where the wreckage is located, tracked ambulances were dispatched to the region. Authorities are monitoring operations from a mobile coordination center established by AFAD," according to reports from the scene.
The Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the crash. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that four prosecutors have been assigned under the coordination of one chief prosecutor to conduct the investigation.
"The investigation is being conducted comprehensively and meticulously," Tunc stated.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya is expected to visit the crash site to conduct an inspection. Four prosecutors from the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office are participating in the search and investigation efforts.
Libya's Government of National Unity declared three days of national mourning following the deaths of the military delegation. During the mourning period, all state institutions will fly flags at half-mast, and official ceremonies and celebrations will be suspended.
"The Government of National Unity extends its sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased and to their colleagues in the armed forces, praying that Almighty God bestows His vast mercy upon them, grants them eternal rest in His spacious gardens, and blesses their families and loved ones with patience and solace," the government statement said.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah instructed the Defense Ministry to send an official delegation to Ankara to coordinate directly with Turkish authorities and review the circumstances of the crash.
Libya's Presidency Council head Mohamed Menfi mourned the deaths, calling them "a grave loss for the Libyan military establishment and for the entire nation."
"Libya has lost national military leaders who dedicated their lives to serving the country, who bore their responsibilities with utmost integrity in delicate circumstances, and who performed their duty with a high spirit of discipline, commitment and loyalty, placing the interest, security and stability of the nation above all considerations," Menfi stated.
Libya's Tripoli-based government confirmed that the deaths represented "a tragic loss to the nation, the military establishment, and all the people."
"We have lost men who served their country with sincerity and dedication and were an example of discipline, responsibility, and national commitment," the government statement said.
Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar issued a message of condolence expressing "deep sorrow over this tragic loss" and conveyed his condolences to the late general's family, tribe, city, and "to all the Libyan people."
The House of Representatives based in Benghazi also issued a condolence message to the families of the deceased and their colleagues in the armed forces.
Türkiye's Presidential Communications Director Duran also stressed the importance of relying on official sources during the ongoing investigation.
"In this process, it is extremely important that press and media organizations and the public rely only on official statements made by official authorities; disregard unverified information, speculation, and conspiracy theories on social media; and not give prominence to misinformation attempts," Duran stated.
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