President Erdogan announces formal probe into fatal Libyan plane crash

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that a necessary investigation has been formally launched into the plane crash near Ankara that killed a senior Libyan military delegation. Speaking at a party meeting, Erdogan extended Türkiye's condolences to Libya, describing the incident as deeply tragic.

Condolences for the Libyan nation

President Erdogan expressed sorrow on behalf of the Turkish nation, directing his sympathies to the "brotherly Libyan people," its armed forces, and government. The crash on Tuesday claimed the lives of Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohamed Ali Al-Haddad, four members of his delegation, and three aircraft crew members. Erdogan stated that relevant government ministries would provide updates on the investigation's progress.

Crash details and ongoing operations

The Falcon 50 business jet crashed shortly after departing from Ankara's Esenboğa Airport en route to Tripoli. Wreckage was located approximately two kilometers south of Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district. Search and recovery operations, managed by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) from a mobile coordination center, continued through the night despite heavy rain and fog.