Ankara, December 24 – A jet carrying the Libyan Chief of General Staff, General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad, and his delegation, which departed from Ankara Esenboğa Airport for Tripoli, crashed in a mountainous area near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district. The incident occurred on December 23, with the last contact made at 8:52 PM. Search teams have located the aircraft’s debris, and an extensive investigation has been launched.
Loss of Contact and Emergency Response
The jet, with five people on board, took off from Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 PM. Approximately 42 minutes into the flight, at 8:52 PM, contact with the aircraft was lost. It was reported that the plane had declared an emergency landing due to an electrical malfunction and was planning to land at Etimesgut Airport before communication ceased.
Following reports of the crash in a mountainous area of Kesikkavak village in Haymana, gendarmerie, fire, and health teams were immediately dispatched to the region. Due to the muddy terrain, search operations were conducted on foot, leading to the discovery of the aircraft’s debris. Teams are currently continuing their work at the crash site.
Investigation Launched by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into the crash. One Chief Public Prosecutor’s Deputy and four Public Prosecutors have been assigned to coordinate the inquiry. Justice Minister Tunç stated, “The investigation is being carried out thoroughly and meticulously in all its aspects.”
Meanwhile, flights at Esenboğa Airport, which were temporarily suspended due to the incident, have resumed.
Eyewitness Accounts and Official Statements
Bekir Taner, an eyewitness to the crash, told reporters that he heard a loud noise and quickly rushed to the scene. He participated in the search and rescue efforts with the teams and confirmed that they reached the wreckage after some time.
Interior Minister Yerlikaya also released a statement on his social media account regarding the crashed aircraft, confirming that the debris of the plane, carrying the Libyan Chief of General Staff General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad, was reached by gendarmerie forces 2 kilometers south of Kesikkavak Village in Haymana district. He added that the public would be informed of further developments.
Libyan Delegation’s Visit to Ankara
Prior to the crash, Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohamed Ali Ahmed El Haddad was in Ankara as an official guest of General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, the Turkish Chief of General Staff. General Bayraktaroğlu had welcomed General Haddad with a military ceremony. Following the ceremony, General Bayraktaroğlu and General Haddad held bilateral and inter-delegation meetings. Lieutenant General Futuri Gribel, Commander of the Libyan Land Forces, and General Metin Tokel, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, also participated in the inter-delegation discussions.
The cause of the electrical malfunction and the subsequent crash remains under investigation.
Source: https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/ankaradan-kalkan-ozel-jetle-irtibat-kesildi-929477.html
