Turkish authorities have initiated a formal investigation into a devastating private jet crash that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including a senior Libyan military commander. The incident occurred earlier this week shortly after the aircraft departed from the capital, Ankara.
Investigation Launched into Catastrophic Crash
The Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday, 25 December 2025, that the technical analysis of the aircraft's black boxes is now underway. The probe is being conducted in close cooperation with officials from Libya, marking a collaborative international effort to determine the cause of the tragedy.
The flight was carrying a high-level Libyan delegation returning to Tripoli following defence talks in Turkey aimed at strengthening military ties between the two nations. Among the victims was General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, the military chief for western Libya. He was accompanied by four other military officials and three crew members. There were no survivors.
Recovery Efforts and Initial Assessments
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that recovery operations were significantly complicated by the state of the wreckage. The debris field was scattered across an area spanning three square kilometres – more than a square mile – indicating the severity of the impact.
In the immediate aftermath, Libyan officials pointed to a technical malfunction as the likely cause of the crash. To assist with the investigation and repatriation process, a 22-person delegation from Libya, which included five family members of the deceased, arrived in Turkey early on Wednesday.
International Ramifications and Next Steps
This tragic event strikes at the heart of recent diplomatic and military engagement between Turkey and Libya. The talks in Ankara, which the delegation was departing from, were specifically focused on bolstering defence cooperation. The loss of such a significant figure in Libya's military structure is expected to have considerable repercussions.
The focus now remains firmly on the ongoing technical investigation. Analysts will meticulously examine data from the recovered flight recorders to build a definitive picture of the jet's final moments. The findings will be crucial for providing answers to the grieving families and for informing future aviation safety protocols.
