Ankara (Turkiye Khabar): Turkey’s Presidential Director of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, has released details of the final message received before the crash of the aircraft carrying Libya’s Chief of Staff, General Mohammad Al-Haddad.
He stated that the aircraft had informed air traffic control of a malfunction in its electrical system and requested permission for an emergency landing. However, contact with the aircraft was lost while it was returning.
According to Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation to determine the causes of the crash. Sources said the aircraft was returning towards Esenboğa Airport but disappeared from radar en route.
Flight radar data shows that the aircraft first gained altitude, then suddenly lost height and vanished from radar screens just 16 minutes into the flight. Turkish media also reported that an explosion was heard near the area where the plane went missing, prompting search and rescue teams to begin operations.
Meanwhile, Libyan interim government head Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has confirmed the death of General Mohammad Al-Haddad. A delegation from Libya’s Ministry of Defense is also arriving in Ankara to obtain further details of the incident.
