Black box found from Libyan army chief’s plane crash near Ankara

• Black box from Falcon 50 jet that killed Libyan army chief al-Haddad recovered near Ankara.
• Investigation underway as Libyan delegation arrives; crash reportedly caused by electrical problem shortly after takeoff.

Turkish authorities announced on Wednesday that the black box and flight recorder from the Falcon 50 jet that crashed near Ankara on Tuesday night have been recovered.

Read more: Libya's top military chief killed in plane crash in Turkey

The crash claimed the life of Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, along with four of his aides and three crew members.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the flight recorder and black box had been found about 50 kilometers from the Turkish capital. “The relevant authorities have begun examining them,” he said, noting that the victims’ bodies remain at the crash site.

Rescue operations amid challenging conditions

AFP reporters observed rescue teams working Wednesday morning amid dense fog following heavy overnight rainfall. The Falcon 50 crashed less than 40 minutes after takeoff. Turkish officials confirmed that the aircraft had reported an “electrical problem” roughly 15 minutes after departure and intended to return to Ankara before losing contact near Haymana about 20 minutes later.

Investigation and official delegations

The Ankara prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident. A Libyan delegation, including officials and family members of the victims, arrived in Ankara on Wednesday to oversee developments.

Official visit and diplomatic context

Al-Haddad had been visiting Ankara on an official trip at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart. He was also received by Turkey’s defense minister and chief of staff during the visit, part of frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries.

Turkey-Libya relations

Turkey is a key ally of the UN-recognized Tripoli government, providing military, economic, and training support since January 2020. Libya remains politically divided since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with rival administrations in Tripoli and the east, backed by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

In recent months, Ankara has also engaged with eastern Libya, hosting Haftar’s son and sending its intelligence chief to Benghazi. Turkish mediation helped facilitate an agreement this fall between Tripoli and western forces, easing months of tension around the capital.