Libya Military Chief Among Eight Killed in Private Jet Crash in Turkey

A private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff and members of a senior military delegation crashed shortly after takeoff from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, on Tuesday, killing all eight people on board, Libyan and Turkish officials said.

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the death of Gen Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, describing the incident as a «tragic accident» and a «great loss» for the country. Four other Libyan officers and three crew members were also killed.

Turkish authorities said the Falcon 50 business jet departed from Esenboga Airport and later issued an emergency signal after reporting a technical and electrical malfunction. Contact with the aircraft was lost as it attempted to return for an emergency landing. Wreckage was later found near the village of Kesikkavak in Haymana.

The Libyan delegation had been in Ankara for high-level defence talks aimed at strengthening military cooperation with Turkey. During the visit, al-Haddad met Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler.

Turkey has launched an official investigation into the crash, assigning prosecutors to the case, while Libya said it will send a technical team to Ankara to assist with the probe.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Gold surged past $4,500 an ounce on Wednesday, hitting a record high as investors sought safe-haven assets amid expectations of lower US interest rates next year.