Libya’s army chief has been killed in an air crash in Turkey, prompting shock and mourning in Libya and renewed questions about safety and security surrounding official travel. According to reports from international news agencies including Reuters, the Financial Times and regional media, the military aircraft carrying the senior Libyan commander went down near the Turkish capital Ankara while returning from official engagements with Turkish defence officials.
Turkish authorities said the aircraft encountered technical problems shortly after take-off and requested an emergency landing before losing contact with air traffic controllers. Wreckage was later found in a rural area, and all those on board were confirmed dead. Initial assessments by Turkish officials suggest the crash was caused by a mechanical or electrical failure, although a full investigation is under way, with flight recorders recovered for analysis.
Libyan officials confirmed that the victim was the country’s chief of the general staff, a key figure in ongoing efforts to unify Libya’s fractured armed forces after years of political division and conflict. Statements from Libya’s internationally recognised government described the incident as a profound national loss, praising the general’s role in stabilisation efforts and military reform. Several days of national mourning were announced, and flags were ordered to be flown at half-mast.
Condolences have also poured in from Turkey, where senior leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting Libya and pledged full cooperation in the investigation. Analysts say the death of the army chief could have significant political and security implications for Libya, where rival factions and competing centres of power remain fragile despite ongoing United Nations-backed reconciliation efforts.
Investigations by Turkish aviation and security authorities are continuing, and officials from both countries have said further details will be released once the cause of the crash is formally established.
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