Small jet crash near Ankara kills eight, including Libya’s military chief

Eight people were killed after a small jet crashed near Turkey’s capital late Tuesday, including Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, Mohammed al-Haddad, Turkish authorities confirmed. The aircraft went down roughly 30 minutes after takeoff following a reported technical failure.

Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the Falcon 50 jet disappeared from radar after issuing an emergency landing signal. Wreckage was later found in the Haymana district, south of Ankara, after overnight search and rescue operations by Turkish emergency crews.

Those killed in the crash included General al-Haddad, a Libyan brigadier, an adviser to the chief of staff, a military photographer, and three crew members. Officials said there were no survivors among the eight people on board.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths in a social media statement, calling the loss a major blow to the country. He described al-Haddad as a key national figure and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

Turkish civil aviation and security authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Technical failure has been cited as a preliminary factor, though officials say a full review will be required to determine the exact circumstances.