A senior Libyan military commander and several members of his delegation have died in a plane crash in Turkey. The aircraft, which was returning to Libya from an official visit, went down shortly after takeoff from Ankara.
The jet, a Dassault Falcon 50, departed from Esenboğa Airport in the Turkish capital. Authorities report that air traffic control lost contact with the flight less than an hour into its journey. The wreckage was later located in a rural area near Ankara.
Initial reports indicate the crew declared an emergency due to an electrical system failure and requested permission for an immediate landing before communications ceased. The crash is believed to have claimed the lives of all on board.
The Libyan delegation was led by the nation’s top military officer. Also among the fatalities were the commander of the army’s ground forces, the head of its military manufacturing authority, a senior adviser, and an official photographer.
The visit to Turkey had included high-level meetings with Turkish defense officials. The tragedy comes amid ongoing international engagement in Libya, where Turkey has maintained a military and political presence in support of the Tripoli-based administration. Recent diplomatic efforts have also seen Ankara expanding its outreach to rival factions within the divided country.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.