Turkish President pledges full support to Libya after fatal plane crash

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohammad al-Manfi on Wednesday to formally express his condolences over the fatal plane crash near Ankara. According to a statement from the Turkish Communications Directorate, Erdogan conveyed sympathy for the deaths of Libyan Chief of General Staff Mohamed Ali Al-Haddad and other officials.

Assurance of ongoing support

In the conversation, President Erdogan emphasized the strength of bilateral ties between the two nations. He described relations as "extremely strong" and assured Libyan authorities that Türkiye would "continue to provide all necessary support." He noted that recovery operations at the crash site were proceeding without interruption despite challenging conditions.

Context of the crash and response

The Falcon 50 business jet crashed on Tuesday shortly after departing Ankara's Esenboga Airport en route to Tripoli. The wreckage was located near Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district. Turkish disaster management agency AFAD established a mobile coordination center at the site, with search efforts continuing through heavy rain and fog to support the ongoing investigation.