On Tuesday night, Turkey temporarily closed the airspace above its capital following the crash of a private jet carrying Libya’s chief military officer. The aircraft went down south of Ankara shortly after leaving the airport, leading to flight reroutes, a heightened security alert, and a comprehensive investigation within the NATO member country.

The ill-fated Falcon 50 jet was transporting Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, along with four others. Approximately 30 minutes post-departure from Esenboga International Airport, the plane lost contact, as reported by Turkish sources to Al-Monitor. Both Libyan and Turkish officials have verified Al-Haddad’s passing.

The decision to close Ankara’s airspace marked the incident as more than a standard aviation mishap. Such actions are generally reserved for events that present unresolved security concerns or require safeguarding the capital while authorities evaluate the risk of subsequent threats.

In an image released by the Turkish Defense Ministry via Reuters, Libya’s army chief of staff, Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, is seen greeting Turkish chief of general staff, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.

According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, communication with the jet ceased at 8:52 p.m. local time after an emergency landing alert was issued near Haymana, roughly 75 kilometers from Ankara. The jet, identified by the tail number 9H-DFJ, had departed at 8:10 p.m. en route to Tripoli.

Following the loss of contact, Turkish authorities closed Ankara’s airspace as a precaution and diverted multiple commercial flights away from Esenboga Airport, according to Turkish broadcaster NTV and flight tracking data cited by TRT. Search and rescue teams were deployed to the suspected crash area.

The crash came just hours after Al-Haddad concluded an official visit to Ankara. Turkey’s Defense Ministry had earlier announced that the Libyan army chief met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Turkish Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and other senior commanders as part of ongoing military and security coordination between Turkey and Libya, according to TRT.

Falcon 50 sent emergency signal after takeoff from Ankara; search underway near Haymana, Turkey. Photo: Anadolu Agency Video via Reuters. (Anadolu Agency Video via Reuters)

Türkiye Today reported that the visit underscored deepening defense ties between Ankara and Libya’s Tripoli-based government, adding sensitivity to the incident given the seniority of those aboard the aircraft and the timing immediately following high-level meetings.

The prime minister of Libya’s U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, said he had received news of the death of Libya’s army chief of staff after Al-Haddad’s plane lost radio contact above Turkey’s Ankara, Reuters reported.

Dbeibah, who said he was mourning Al-Haddad’s death, added that the army chief had been accompanied by others on board the aircraft, including military officials. No additional details about the other passengers’ identities or conditions were immediately released.

Ankara Airport, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo)

Turkish officials have not yet publicly detailed the cause of the crash. No official statements have indicated sabotage or hostile fire, and any conclusions beyond a reported in-flight emergency remain pending verification.

Search and recovery efforts were continuing, and Turkish authorities said further information would be released as it is confirmed.