Search continues at Ankara crash site of Libyan army chief's jet

Search and recovery operations intensified on Wednesday at the site where a Libyan Falcon 50 jet crashed near the Turkish capital Ankara, killing Army Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Haddad and all others on board. The aircraft was en route from Ankara's Esenboga Airport to Tripoli when it went down on Tuesday.

Wreckage located in challenging conditions

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that gendarmerie teams located the wreckage approximately two kilometers south of Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district. The discovery was made overnight despite heavy rain and fog that complicated the initial search efforts. Security forces have cordoned off the area to secure the crash site.

Large-scale emergency response deployed

At daybreak, operations accelerated with a significant deployment of personnel and resources. The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) established a mobile coordination center on-site to direct the ongoing work. Minister Yerlikaya is expected to visit the location to oversee the multi-agency response personally.

Libya declares national mourning

In response to the tragedy, Libya's Government of National Unity has declared three days of national mourning for the loss of its senior military leadership. The crash represents a significant blow to the Libyan administration and underscores the close ties between Türkiye and the Tripoli-based government.