Turkish Airliner Redirects After Electrical Failure, But Crashes Near Ankara

A devastating crash occurred near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday evening when a private jet, carrying the chief of staff of Libya's army, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, and four members of his entourage, experienced an electrical failure and crashed, killing all eight on board. The Dassault Falcon 50 jet, leased and registered in Malta, took off from Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 1717 GMT and was headed to Tripoli when it reported the emergency to air traffic control at 1733 GMT. Despite air traffic control redirecting the plane back to the airport, the jet disappeared from radar at 1736 GMT while descending for landing. According to Turkish officials, the aircraft had requested an emergency landing while flying over Ankara's Haymana district. Search and rescue teams were deployed to the crash site in Kesikkavak village, and investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, involving relevant authorities from both Turkey and Libya. The Libyan government has confirmed that Al-Haddad, the country's army chief of staff, was among the fatalities, along with four members of his entourage. The technical history of the leased jet will be examined as part of the investigation.