ISTANBUL — Experts have started analyzing the black boxes recovered from a jet crash in Turkey that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief , the Turkish defense ministry said Thursday. The probe was being done in coordination with Libyan officials. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane. Al-Hadad was the top military commander in western Libya and played a crucial role in the ongoing, U.N.-brokered efforts to unify Libya’s military, which has split, much like Libya’s institutions. A 22-person delegation, including five family members of those killed on board, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.

Earlier, Turkey’s Transport Minister, Abdul Qadir Uraloglu, said the black box would be sent to what he described as a neutral country. The black box: a crucial piece of evidenceThe flight data recorder, commonly known as the “black box”, is one of the most critical devices on board modern aircraft. Scientifically referred to as a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), it documents the aircraft’s performance throughout the flight, second by second. Despite its name, the black box is not black. Built from highly durable materials such as titanium, the black box is designed to withstand extreme impacts, intense fires and enormous pressure, whether from high-altitude crashes or deep-sea immersion.

(AA Photo)The French Embassy in Ankara confirmed late Thursday that two French citizens were among those killed when a business jet carrying Libyan military officials crashed near the Turkish capital earlier this week. “We have received confirmation by the Turkish authorities that two French citizens were among the victims,” French Embassy officials told Türkiye Today. The embassy had told a day earlier to Türkiye Today that it was “in contact with the Turkish authorities” regarding the crash. An infographic titled "Dassault Falcon 50 business jet with tail number 9H-DFS" created in Ankara, Türkiye on Dec. 24, 2025. Turkish authorities have recovered the wreckage and the flight recorders, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

Libya’s army chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, was killed in a plane crash shortly after departing Ankara, Libyan and Turkish officials said, confirming the deaths of all five people on board. Turkish officials said the Dassault Falcon 50 jet requested an emergency landing while flying over central Turkey, but radio contact was lost shortly afterward. A senior Libyan official said the aircraft was a leased jet registered in Malta, adding that its ownership and technical history would be examined as part of the probe. The crash came just one day after Turkey’s parliament voted to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Libya for another two years. In recent years, Turkey has sought to broaden its engagement in Libya under a “One Libya” policy, increasing contacts with rival factions in the country’s east.

Peace in Libya is essential for the European Union, declared the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, ahead of today's conference in Berlin dedicated to the crisis in the African country. "It is time to consolidate the ceasefire, respect the UN arms embargo and resume the political process," Michel wrote on Twitter, also thanking German Chancellor Angela Merkel for organizing this conference. "This is what the Libyans need and it is vital for the security and stability of the EU," he added. Michel will attend this conference together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.//ATSH© Balkans Web

MOGADISHU: Somalia has expressed condolences to Libya following the death of the nation’s army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, along with four senior officers and three crew members, in an incident described as a significant loss for Libya. In a statement, the Somali government demonstrated solidarity with Libya’s Government of National Unity and the families of those who died, reaffirming its support for Libya during this time of mourning. “Somalia stands in solidarity with the Libyan Government of National Unity and the families of the deceased, sharing in their profound grief,” the statement noted. Somalia also extended prayers for the deceased, calling for strength and patience for their families and the Libyan people. Somali officials stated the message highlighted enduring connections between the two nations and a dedication to mutual support during challenging times.

The Presidential Council (PC) chief Mohamed Menfi has received messages of condolence from several Arab leaders following the death of the Libyan army’s Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Mohamed al-Haddad, and his companions in a plane crash near Ankara. Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressed his sympathy and prayed for mercy for the victims and patience for their families. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also conveyed “sincere condolences” to Libya’s leadership and people over what he described as a major loss. Similar messages were sent by UAE Vice President and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who voiced deep sorrow and solidarity with the Libyan people. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani offered condolences to the Libyan government, people and families of the victims, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he shared Libya’s grief and prayed for the country’s safety.

DNA testing delays funeral plans as investigators examine the wreckage of jet crash that killed Libyan army chief. Officials from Libya and Turkiye have stepped up coordination over the investigation into a plane crash near Ankara that killed Libya’s army chief and seven other people as forensic work and preparations for repatriating the bodies are conducted. Libya’s Criminal Investigation Department chief, Major General Mahmoud Ashour, led a delegation to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday as part of the joint inquiry. On Tuesday, a private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, reported an electrical malfunction shortly after taking off from Ankara Esenboga Airport. According to Turkiye’s head of communications, Burhanettin Duran, the aircraft, bound for Tripoli, requested an emergency landing 16 minutes after takeoff.

Turkey has pledged to continue investigations into the crash of a plane carrying Libya’s Chief of General Staff and several senior officers, and to present a full report once inquiries are complete, the Turkish ambassador to Libya has said. Güven Begeç made the remarks during a meeting in Tripoli with Presidential Council head Mohamed Menfi on Thursday. The ambassador conveyed the condolences of Turkey’s leadership to Menfi and the Libyan people over the “tragic incident,” which claimed the lives of the army’s chief of staff, the chief of land forces and a number of their aides. He expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the families of the victims, wishing them patience and comfort.

ISTANBUL (AP) — The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday. The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane. Other WRAL Top StoriesThe high-level Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries. A 22-person delegation, including five family members, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.

Defense Minister Yasar Guler (not seen) receives Libyan Chief of General Staff General Muhammed Ali Al-Haddad during their meeting in Ankara, Türkiye on Dec. 23, 2025. (AA Photo)Turkish authorities announced Wednesday they are deepening their investigation into the crash of a Libyan military aircraft that killed five senior officers, with prosecutors now examining everything from the aircraft's maintenance records to the crew's final hours before takeoff. Search operations continue at the wreckage of the private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad in Ankara, Dec. 24, 2025. Fuel samples have been collected from both the refueling tanker and the aircraft wreckage to rule out contamination or incorrect fuel type. In addition to Haddad, those killed included Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Maj. Gen. Al-Faituri Ghraibil, Director of the Military Manufacturing Agency Brig.

A part of the wreckage of the private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, in Ankara, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (AA Photo)The Falcon-50 aircraft carrying Libyan military officials declared an emergency due to an electrical malfunction before crashing near Ankara on late Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MoND) said Thursday. A Turkish soldier during search operations around the wreckage of the private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, Ankara, Dec. 24, 2025. Rescuers work at the wreckage site of a Libya-bound business jet carrying Libyan Chief of Staff General Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, in Ankara, Türkiye Dec. 24, 2025. An infographic titled "Jet carrying Libyan army chief crashes in Ankara" was created in Ankara, Türkiye, on December 24, 2025.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Experts have started analyzing the black boxes recovered from a jet crash in Turkey that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, the Turkish defense ministry said Thursday. Al-Hadad was the top military commander in western Libya and played a crucial role in the ongoing, U.N.-brokered efforts to unify Libya’s military, which has split, much like Libya’s institutions. A 22-person delegation, including five family members of those killed on board, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation. The country split, with rival administrations in the east and west, backed by an array of rogue militias and different foreign governments. Turkey has been the main backer of Libya’s government in the west, but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based government as well.

This is not a temporary disruption but a deepening cash crisis reshaping daily life, where physical money is scarce. The current cash crisis is not new. Long queues outside banks have repeatedly appeared over the past decade as families and businesses struggle to access liquidity. READ: Libya’s Presidency Council mourns army chief, 4 aides after plane crash near AnkaraBeyond diversion and mistrust, Libya’s cash crisis is worsened by a severe shortage of functioning cash-distribution infrastructure. Libya’s cash crisis is sustained not by confusion over its causes but by the lack of accountability for those who benefit.

Dilek Kaya Imamoglu has stepped into the spotlight while her husband is in jail by attending rallies and meeting the families of his party’s other jailed officials. “It’s an extremely difficult time for our children and for me… but we hold onto one another,” Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, 51, told AFP in her first interview with foreign media. But Dilek Kaya Imamoglu said they have taken strength from her husband’s message “to never lose hope”. Dilek Kaya Imamoglu said the family is allowed weekly visits to see him in Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, where several other leading opponents of Erdogan are also being held. “Frankly, this silence has disappointed us,” Dilek Kaya Imamoglu said.