Libyan armed forces chief killed in plane crash in Türkiye PHOTO / VIDEO

Parts of a private jet have been found in the Turkish district of Haymana following the crash of an aircraft carrying Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, General Mohammed Ali al-Haddad.

Turkish authorities have confirmed the crash, according to Clash Report. Security forces have arrived at the site, and rescue and investigation operations are ongoing. Further details regarding the cause of the crash and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being clarified.

The Falcon 50 aircraft had departed from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport bound for Tripoli when it suddenly disappeared from radar screens. Turkish broadcaster Habertürk reported that airspace over Ankara was temporarily closed following the incident.

HaberGlobal cited witnesses as saying that an explosion was heard near the airport shortly before the aircraft vanished.

General al-Haddad had arrived in Ankara earlier in the day at the invitation of the Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. During his visit, he held talks with Türkiye’s Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler.

Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), based in Tripoli, said it would send a technical team to Türkiye to take part in the investigation. Musa Faraj, second deputy chairman of Libya’s High Council of State, told Al Jazeera that a specialised commission had been formed to examine all aspects of the crash.

“The technical team will travel to Ankara in the morning to participate in the investigation,” Faraj said.

Libya’s GNU has declared three days of national mourning following the death of General al-Haddad in the crash. According to Libya al-Ahrar television, the mourning period will be observed across the entire country.

By Aghakazim Guliyev