Radio contact lost with jet carrying Libyan army chief over Ankara

Radio contact was lost with a private jet believed to be carrying Libyan Army Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad after takeoff from Ankara Esenboğa Airport, as first reported by Turkish broadcaster NTV, and later confirmed by the country's Interior Minister.

The aircraft departed from the Turkish capital when radar contact was severed. Turkish authorities have closed Ankara's airspace to flights following the incident.

Al-Haddad serves as the chief of staff for Libya's armed forces. The situation remains under monitoring by Turkish aviation authorities.

No additional details about the circumstances surrounding the lost contact or the aircraft's status have been provided. The airspace closure indicates ongoing search and rescue operations in the area.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the loss of contact later on Tuesday.

The aircraft departed at 1710 GMT and radio contact was lost at 1752 GMT, according to Yerlikaya’s statement on X. The flight had requested an emergency landing while flying over the Haymana district of Ankara, but authorities were unable to establish further contact after this request. The jet carrying Libya’s military chief of staff and four others lost radio contact after taking off from Ankara en route to Tripoli.

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