In light of the tragic accident involving a private jet that claimed the life of Libya’s army chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad and several others, Turkish and Libyan authorities are diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. This incident not only highlights the complexities of international aviation but also underscores the cooperation between nations to ensure safety and accountability in the wake of such tragedies.
Istanbul, Turkiye – Turkish authorities, in collaboration with Libyan officials, are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the crash of a private jet that resulted in the deaths of Libya’s army chief, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and seven others near Ankara. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is leading the probe, focusing on technical evidence, flight recordings, crew activities, and aircraft maintenance, with assistance from the French civil aviation investigations agency, BEA.
General al-Haddad had arrived in Ankara for discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and Defence Minister Yasar Guler. The aircraft, a French-made Dassault Falcon 50, took off from Ankara Esenboga Airport at 2:17 PM local time before reporting an electrical malfunction just 16 minutes into the flight and requesting an emergency return. Contact was lost at 2:41 PM as the plane descended toward the runway, with only a narrow window between the emergency alarm and the crash.
The crash site in Kesikkavak village, located approximately 70 kilometers south of Ankara, has been secured by Turkish security forces, and all wreckage, including the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, has been collected for analysis. Following a ceremonial repatriation at an airbase outside Ankara, the bodies of General al-Haddad and his companions were returned to Libya.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities are scrutinizing air traffic control recordings, radar data, and airport security footage. Investigators have also requested communication logs between the pilots and the control tower, while reviewing the crew’s rest periods, medical histories, and any meals or medications consumed prior to takeoff. Maintenance logs and details of the aircraft’s recent inspections are also under review, as investigators aim to identify any possible technical oversights.
Fuel samples are being analyzed from both the wreckage and airport storage to eliminate the possibility of contamination or incorrect fuel being used. Local weather data has also been requested to provide a clearer image of the crash conditions.
The complexity of this incident is heightened by its international implications, as noted by Gursel Tokmakoglu, a former head of the Turkish air force’s intelligence agency. He emphasized the multinational nature of the case, involving a foreign-chartered aircraft, international pilots, and passengers from Libya. The Turkish Transport Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, mentioned that the black boxes might need to be sent abroad for further analysis, prompting discussions about the best approach to investigate the circumstances transparently and effectively.
Preliminary analysis of the aircraft’s transmissions indicated a 7700 emergency “squawk” code, signaling an urgent situation, along with reports of an electrical failure. However, experts caution that attributing the crash solely to the electrical malfunction could be premature, as failures in aviation can lead to cascading issues, much like a medical patient suffering complications arising from an initial ailment.
While active investigations continue, aviation industry analysts, including Guntay Simsek, affirm that no external factors such as an explosion have been identified as contributing factors thus far. The pursuit of clarity and safety in aviation protocols remains paramount as authorities adhere to ICAO regulations, which mandate a preliminary report within 30 days and a final report within 12 months.
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