Libya has been plunged into mourning following the death of its armed forces chief, General Mohammed al-Haddad, in a plane crash in Turkey on Tuesday night.
General al-Haddad, four other senior military officials, and three crew members were killed when their private jet went down shortly after taking off from Ankara.
The delegation was returning to Tripoli after an official visit to hold talks with top Turkish defense officials, including the defense minister.
Among the other victims were the head of Libya’s ground forces, the director of its military manufacturing authority, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a military photographer.
According to Turkish authorities, the leased Maltese aircraft declared an electrical failure and requested an emergency landing just minutes before contact was lost.
The wreckage of the Falcon 50 jet was later discovered in a rural area about 50 miles southwest of Ankara.
Turkish investigators have since recovered the plane’s black box and flight data recorder and have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash
The tragedy has prompted a rare display of national unity in Libya, with both the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and the rival eastern-based administration declaring a three-day period of mourning.
Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah described the incident as a “great loss for the nation,” a sentiment echoed by officials across the political divide who saw General al-Haddad as a key figure in efforts to unify the country’s military.
