Turkey Closes Airspace After Jet Crash Involving Libyan Military Leader
Airspace over Ankara, Turkey’s capital, was closed on Tuesday night following a tragic incident where a business jet carrying Libya’s top military leader crashed shortly after takeoff. The Falcon 50 plane lost contact while flying south of Ankara about 30 minutes after it left Esenboga International Airport, leading to an emergency response and further investigations.
The jet was carrying Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, the Chief of the General Staff of Libya’s armed forces, along with four other passengers. Turkish and Libyan officials have confirmed that Al-Haddad did not survive the crash.
This incident prompted an unusual reaction from Turkish authorities, who closed airspace to ensure security around the capital. This type of measure is typically taken when there are unresolved security threats, highlighting the seriousness of this particular case.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that contact with the aircraft was lost at 8:52 PM local time. The plane had taken off at 8:10 PM, heading towards Tripoli, and sent out a distress signal just before contact was lost near Haymana, about 75 kilometers from Ankara.
As a safety measure, commercial flights were diverted from Esenboga Airport, and search and rescue teams were dispatched to the presumed crash site. The aircraft went down soon after Al-Haddad completed an official visit in Ankara, where he had meetings with the Turkish Defense Minister and other high-ranking officials.
Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, expressed his sorrow over the loss of Al-Haddad and confirmed that he was accompanied by military officials on the flight. However, details about the other passengers have not been disclosed yet.
While investigations are still ongoing, Turkish officials have yet to provide specific information regarding the cause of the crash, and there are no indications of foul play or hostile actions at this time.
Rescue efforts continue, and the Turkish authorities are expected to release more information as it becomes available.
