The tragic crash of a private jet carrying Libya's top military delegation near Ankara has quickly escalated from a technical failure investigation into a matter of intense geopolitical speculation. While initial reports cited an electrical system malfunction, high-level Turkish sources speaking to The Levant Files on condition of anonymity have confirmed that all scenarios remain on the table, with investigators instructed not to bypass any possibility, including external interference.
The Geopolitical Angle: Timing and Suspicion
The most compelling new information centers on the timing of the event, which has raised immediate red flags within Ankara's diplomatic and security circles.
"The crash came in a period that Greece, Cyprus and Israel try to bypass Turkey in a series of significant energy and security deals. Libya is a key country for us (Turkey). For this reason we are not disregarding any scenario."
This statement from a diplomatic source underscores the strategic importance of the deceased delegation, led by General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad, who was a key figure in Libya's internationally recognized government and a partner in Turkey's defense and maritime agreements. The loss of this high-ranking military leadership is seen as a severe blow to Turkish influence in the region.
A second source drew a stark parallel to recent regional incidents, noting the accumulation of such events has undoubtedly attracted the attention of secret services:
"Other source remembers us the crash of the helicopter of the Iranian president, adding that although there are no indications that it was a sabotages the accumulation of this kind of events in the region is a development that has surely attracted the attention of the secret services.”
While Turkish investigators, including four prosecutors, are focusing on the reported electrical failure, the political and security establishment is clearly viewing the incident through a lens of regional rivalry and potential sabotage. The black box has reportedly been recovered, and its data will be crucial in determining the final cause.
The Flight and The Victims
The crash occurred on Tuesday evening, December 23, 2025, shortly after the delegation departed Ankara following high-level defense cooperation talks with Turkish officials.
The Malta-registered Dassault Falcon 50 business jet, tail number 9H-DFJ, belonging to Harmony Jets, took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 8:10 p.m. local time. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, having reached an altitude of 32,400 feet, the crew detected an electrical system malfunction and requested an emergency landing over the Karapınar Aktepe area. Radar contact was lost at 8:52 p.m. during the attempted return approach to Esenboğa Airport.
The wreckage was subsequently located by gendarmerie forces in the Haymana district south of Ankara, approximately 2 kilometers south of Kesikkavak village. Residents in the area reported hearing an explosion, and the jet reportedly caught fire upon impact with the ground.
Casualties
Authorities confirmed that all eight people aboard the aircraft—five passengers and three crew members—perished in the crash. The five high-ranking Libyan military officials were:
Name | Position |
General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad | Chief of General Staff of Libya |
Lieutenant General El-Fatouri Gharbil | Army Chief of Staff |
Brigadier General Mahmud El-Fadavi | Head of the Military Production Authority |
Mohammed El-Asavi | Advisor to the Chief of General Staff |
Mohammed Mahjoub | Official photographer for the Chief of General Staff |
Last Night in Ankara
The dominant event in the Turkish capital on the night of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, and into the early hours of Wednesday, December 24, 2025, was the immediate aftermath of the plane crash.
Security and Search Operations: The night was defined by intense search and recovery efforts. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the wreckage was found by gendarmerie forces, and search-and-rescue teams worked through the night to secure the site and recover the remains of the victims. The search for the aircraft's flight data recorder (black box) was a priority, with reports confirming its discovery early Wednesday morning
Lack of Other Major Incidents: Beyond the security and investigative activity related to the crash, there were no reports of major security incidents, large-scale protests, or significant political meetings in Ankara that night. The tragedy and the subsequent high-level investigation effectively became the sole focus of the capital's security apparatus and news cycle.
Photo: T24