Ankara, December 23 – A Falcon 50 business jet, tail number 9H-DFJ, carrying Libyan Chief of Staff General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad and four other individuals, lost radar contact at approximately 20:52 local time on Tuesday evening. The aircraft had departed from Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 20:10, bound for Tripoli.
Emergency Landing Request Preceded Disappearance
Contact with the jet was lost after an emergency landing notification was received from the aircraft in the vicinity of Haymana, a district of Ankara. However, subsequent attempts to re-establish communication with the plane were unsuccessful. The jet had reached an altitude of 32,400 feet before radar contact was severed over the Aktepe area of Karapınar, Konya.
General Al-Haddad had been in Ankara for official engagements, including a meeting with Turkish Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktar. He was reportedly returning to Tripoli when the incident occurred. Initial reports suggest that a malfunction in the aircraft’s electrical system was detected, prompting the pilot to request an emergency landing and decide to return to Esenboğa Airport. It was during this return flight that radar contact was lost.
Esenboğa Airport Temporarily Closed, Investigation Underway
Following the incident, Esenboğa Airport was temporarily closed to air traffic. Speculations arose that the aircraft might have crashed in the Haymana district of Ankara, but these reports have not yet been officially confirmed by authorities. Official statements from relevant authorities are awaited as the situation unfolds.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya issued a statement via his social media account, confirming the details of the incident. He stated, “Contact was lost with the Falcon 50 type business jet, tail number 9H-DFJ, which took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport this evening at 20:10 to go to Tripoli, as of 20:52. An emergency landing notification was received from the said aircraft near Haymana; however, contact with the aircraft could not be re-established thereafter. There are five passengers on board the aircraft, including the Libyan Chief of Staff, General Muhammed Ali Ahmed AL-Haddad. The public will be informed of developments.”
Authorities have initiated a comprehensive search and rescue operation in the suspected area where radar contact was lost. Teams from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of National Defense, and other emergency services have been mobilized. The primary focus is on locating the aircraft and its passengers. The incident has prompted immediate concern and a full investigation into the circumstances leading to the disappearance is expected to commence once the aircraft is located.
The disappearance of a military chief of staff’s aircraft has drawn significant attention, both domestically and internationally. The Turkish and Libyan governments are closely monitoring the situation, and diplomatic channels are actively engaged. The incident highlights the critical importance of aviation safety protocols and rapid response mechanisms in such emergencies.
Further updates are anticipated as search and rescue efforts continue and more information becomes available from official sources. The public is urged to rely on verified information from official channels and avoid speculation.
Source: https://www.bloomberght.com/esenboga-dan-havalanan-jet-radardan-kayboldu-3764625
