The black box of the Libyan Chief of Staff's plane has been found in Turkey
In a significant development in the tragic plane crash, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that search and rescue teams have recovered the black box and cockpit voice recorder of the aircraft that crashed Tuesday evening near Ankara. The crash killed all aboard, including Libyan Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, along with several of his companions and the flight crew.
In a press statement made during his inspection of the crash site, located approximately 50 kilometers from the capital, Minister Kaya confirmed, "We have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the aircraft's black box." He explained that the relevant authorities immediately began a thorough technical examination of these devices, noting that the victims' bodies remain at the site, where the aircraft wreckage is scattered over a wide area estimated at 3 square kilometers, reflecting the severity of the impact.
Details of search and rescue operations
The Minister of the Interior highlighted the scale of the search efforts, noting that a large force of 408 personnel was mobilized, including rescue teams, gendarmes, police, and medical services. 103 land vehicles and 7 aircraft were also deployed. To ensure the accuracy of the search, drones equipped with thermal cameras were used to transmit real-time images of the area, especially given the challenging weather conditions and dense fog following heavy rainfall.
Transparent investigations in a neutral country
For his part, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, speaking on the “X” platform, affirmed Turkey’s commitment to complete transparency in the investigation. He announced that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder would be sent to a “neutral country” for the necessary analysis to determine the precise cause of the crash after the initial examination is completed. He emphasized that the results would be shared clearly with the public and the world at large to preempt any speculation.
Sequence of events and victims
Eight people perished in this tragic accident: Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad and four of his companions, in addition to three crew members. The ill-fated Falcon-50 aircraft crashed less than 40 minutes after takeoff. According to initial information confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, the crew reported an electrical malfunction approximately 15 minutes after takeoff and indicated their intention to return. Contact was then completely lost with them in the Haymana area twenty minutes later.
Erdogan offers condolences to Dbeibah: The depth of strategic relations
On the political and diplomatic front, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was quick to offer his condolences for this tragic loss. Erdoğan made a phone call to the head of Libya's Government of National Accord, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, expressing his deep sorrow for the loss of life and Türkiye's full solidarity with Libya during this ordeal.
This incident comes at a time of significant development and strategic depth in Turkish-Libyan relations. Since the signing of security and maritime memoranda of understanding in late 2019, and the commencement of direct Turkish military support for the Tripoli government in January 2020, Ankara has become a key ally of Libya. Turkey has played a pivotal role in rebalancing the military landscape in the region, providing combat drones, advanced military training, and growing economic cooperation.
The repercussions and significance of the incident
The death of a military figure of Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad's stature carries significant implications and potential repercussions for the Libyan landscape. Al-Haddad was not merely a military commander; he was a pivotal figure in efforts to unify the Libyan military and in the ongoing negotiations between various factions. This incident is expected to cast a shadow over security and military arrangements in western Libya, making the investigation into the cause of his death crucial, not only for the families of the victims but also for regional stability and to prevent any rumors that could further destabilize the already fragile security situation.
