Libya says "all indicators" point to technical failure in Ankara jet crash

Libyan authorities have indicated that preliminary findings into the fatal crash of a private jet near Ankara suggest the incident was caused by a mechanical malfunction. In a statement to media, a senior Libyan minister stated that "all indicators" point to a technical failure as the cause, offering the first official assessment since the aircraft carrying the country's highest-ranking military officer went down on Monday evening.

Official Account: A Chartered Flight and an Emergency Call

Providing new details, Libyan Minister of State for Communications and Political Affairs Walid Ammar Muhammad al-Lafi explained that the downed aircraft was not owned by the Libyan state but was a chartered flight. He stated that the jet reported a technical issue to air traffic control a short time after departing Ankara's Esenboğa Airport en route to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. This account aligns with the timeline provided by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who confirmed the aircraft issued an emergency signal before contact was lost over the Haymana district.

Confirming the Loss of Senior Military Leadership

The Libyan government has formally confirmed the deaths of all five passengers on board. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh announced that the nation received confirmation of the deaths of General Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, the Chief of the General Staff; his advisor; the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Ground Forces; and the Director of the Manufacturing/Production Authority. The loss represents a severe blow to the military command structure of Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Unity, which relies heavily on General al-Haddad's leadership in its efforts to unify the country's fractured armed forces.

Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications

While the Libyan statement points toward an accident, a comprehensive investigation led by Turkish aviation authorities remains underway at the crash site south of Ankara. Experts will examine the wreckage, flight data recorders, and maintenance records to determine the precise sequence of events. The crash has significant geopolitical ramifications, abruptly severing a critical military and diplomatic channel between Türkiye and Libya. General al-Haddad had been in Ankara for high-level security talks, underscoring the close strategic partnership between the two nations, which now faces an unexpected leadership vacuum at a pivotal moment for Libyan stability.