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Libya's National Unity Government declared three days of national mourning following the death of Chief of General Staff Muhammad al-Haddad and his delegation in a plane crash near Ankara, according to an official government statement.
The government extended condolences to the families of al-Haddad and his colleagues, as well as to their fellow service members in the Libyan Armed Forces. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dibeybe has directed the Defense Ministry to send an official delegation to Ankara to coordinate directly with Turkish authorities on examining the circumstances of the incident.
"During this three-day period, flags will be lowered to half-staff at all state institutions and all official and celebratory events will be suspended," the government statement said. The decision follows the deaths of al-Haddad and his companions in what the statement described as a tragic accident while returning from official duties in Ankara.
The mourning declaration forced the suspension of planned Independence Day festivities scheduled for December 24-25, which were to mark the 74th anniversary of Libya's liberation from Italian occupation.
All official celebrations and state events will remain suspended for the duration of the mourning period as the nation honors the fallen military officials. The government emphasized that the mourning measures apply nationwide across all government institutions.
The private jet carrying al-Haddad and four other Libyan military officials crashed Monday evening after reporting an electrical emergency shortly after departing Esenboga Airport, Turkish officials previously confirmed.
Turkish Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said the aircraft departed at 8:17 p.m. and reported an electrical fault to air traffic control at 8:33 p.m., requesting an emergency landing. The plane disappeared from radar at 8:36 p.m. while attempting to return to the airport, and search teams later located the wreckage approximately 2 kilometers south of Kesikkavak Village in Haymana district.
In addition to al-Haddad, the victims included Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Major General al-Faituri Ghraibil, Director of the Military Manufacturing Agency Brigadier Mahmoud al-Qatiwi, Chief of Staff Advisor Mohamed al-Asawi Diab, and media office photographer Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that Ankara's chief prosecutor has assigned one deputy chief prosecutor and four prosecutors to investigate the crash. "The investigation is being conducted thoroughly and in all its aspects," Tunc stated.
Al-Haddad had completed an official visit with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler earlier Monday, having traveled to Ankara at the invitation of Turkish Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. The delegation departed for Libya just hours after concluding their defense meetings.
Dibeybe's directive to send Libyan officials to Ankara reflects the government's commitment to working with Turkish authorities as the investigation proceeds. Turkish officials have urged media outlets and the public to rely solely on official statements and avoid unverified information circulating on social media during the investigation.
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