Ankara: A plane carrying Libyan Chief of the General Staff Mohammed al-Haddad and Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces al-Fitouri Ghraibil disappeared shortly after taking off from Ankara. The aircraft, a Falcon 50, was en route to Tripoli when contact was lost shortly after its departure from Esenboga Airport.
According to Libyan News Agency, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior and Turkish media reported on Tuesday evening that the private plane, which carried five people including the Libyan military chiefs, went off radar after the crew signaled an emergency landing request near the Haymana area close to Ankara. Despite efforts to re-establish communication, the plane remains unaccounted for, leading Turkish authorities to initiate search and rescue operations in the region.
In response to the incident, the Government of National Accord announced that Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba has established a crisis cell dedicated to liaising with Turkish officials. The goal is to take all necessary measures to ascertain the status of the aircraft and its occupants.
Before the plane's disappearance, Mohammed al-Haddad had engaged in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Sel§uk Bayraktar, at the General Staff headquarters in Ankara. The discussions were held privately, away from the public eye.
Turkish and Libyan authorities continue to work closely, maintaining their efforts to reconnect with the aircraft and investigate the circumstances surrounding its sudden disappearance.