Türkiye: Contact lost with plane carrying Libyan army chief of staff Mohammed al-Haddad
In a surprising development that has alarmed political and military circles in the region, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Tuesday evening that contact had been lost with a private plane carrying high-ranking figures, including Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army affiliated with the Government of National Accord headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. The incident occurred shortly after the plane took off from the Turkish capital, Ankara, prompting an immediate mobilization of search and rescue teams.
Details of the journey and moments of disappearance
According to official statements published by the Turkish Minister via the "X" platform, the missing aircraft is a Falcon 50 with registration number 9H-DFJ. The plane took off from Esenboğa Airport in Ankara at 8:10 PM local time and was en route back to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The Minister explained that contact with the aircraft was completely lost at 8:52 PM (5:52 PM GMT) after the control tower received a request from the crew for an emergency landing in the vicinity of Haymana, Ankara Province. Subsequent attempts to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful.
Who is Lieutenant General Mohamed El Haddad?
The plane was carrying five people, most notably Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad. Al-Haddad serves as the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army in the western region (Government of National Unity). He is a pivotal figure in the current Libyan military landscape, having played a prominent role in efforts to unify the Libyan military through the Joint Military Commission (5+5) meetings, and wielding significant influence over the security balance in Tripoli and the western region.
Context of Turkish-Libyan military relations
The presence of the high-ranking Libyan military official in Turkey comes within the context of the close strategic relationship between Ankara and the Government of National Accord in Tripoli. Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding for security and military cooperation in November 2019, Turkey has become a major supporter of the military forces in western Libya, overseeing training and development programs for the Libyan army. Reciprocal visits between military leaders from both countries are routine for monitoring joint cooperation, equipment maintenance, and security coordination.
Potential repercussions of the accident
This incident carries implications beyond a mere potential air accident; the absence of a figure of the Chief of Staff's stature could cast a long shadow over the complex Libyan landscape. Domestically, the incident could impact the ongoing military negotiations aimed at unifying the army, which are considered the cornerstone of the country's stability and the prelude to elections. Regionally, countries involved in the Libyan file are closely monitoring this event, given the sensitivity of the timing and the fragile security situation in Libya. Turkish authorities are currently conducting extensive search operations in the rugged Haymana region, hoping to locate the wreckage of the aircraft or find survivors, while the international community awaits the results of the search.
