Libya’s government of national unity has officially confirmed the death of the army’s chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad.
The plane carrying him crashed in Turkey shortly after taking off from Ankara.
“This tragic and serious incident occurred while he was returning from an official visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara. This heavy loss is a huge blow to the nation, the armed forces, and the entire people,” Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeiba said in a statement.
The prime minister also said that the plane was carrying the commander of the Libyan ground forces, the head of the military production department, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a photographer.
The cause of the plane crash is still unknown.
Dbeiba instructed the defense minister to send an official delegation to Ankara to monitor the investigation.
Libyan Minister of Political Affairs Walid Ellafi told Libya Alahrar TV that the plane was leased in Malta. Still, he said, “There is not enough information about its owner or technical history.”
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