Contact lost with Tripoli-bound jet carrying Libyan army chief near Ankara: Turkish interior minister

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Tuesday that contact was lost with a Libya-bound private jet carrying the Libyan army chief shortly after departure from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport.

The Falcon 50-type business jet, with tail number 9H-DFJ, took off at 8.10 pm local time (1710GMT) en route to Tripoli. Communication was cut off at approximately 8.52 pm local time (1752GMT), Yerlikaya said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

He stated that the aircraft had transmitted an emergency landing notification near Haymana, a district south of the Turkish capital Ankara.

“However, no further contact could be established with the aircraft after the initial emergency signal,” he noted.

According to the official, five passengers were on board, including Libya’s Chief of General Staff Gen. Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad.

Authorities have launched efforts to locate the aircraft and will provide updates as developments unfold, Yerlikaya added.