A committee formed by Libya’s Ministry of Interior has begun its work at the site of the aircraft crash in Turkey that claimed the lives of the Libyan Army’s Chief of Staff and several senior officials, according to an official statement.
The committee was appointed by the Minister of Interior of the Government of National Unity, Emad Trabelsi, and is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash of the plane that was carrying the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, along with his accompanying delegation.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination and cooperation with the relevant Turkish authorities.
The committee is headed by Major General Mahmoud Al-Ajeeli, head of the Criminal Investigation Department. In parallel, a specialised team is continuing the necessary procedures to repatriate the bodies of the victims to Libya.
These measures include the collection of DNA samples and their comparison with samples provided by relatives, in line with approved forensic standards, the department said in a statement published on its official social media page.
In addition to forensic procedures, the committee’s mandate includes search and investigation operations at the crash site, as well as the examination of aircraft debris. These steps aim to complete the investigative process and uncover all circumstances and potential causes of the incident, as part of a comprehensive inquiry.
The crash has drawn widespread attention in Libya, given the seniority of those on board and the implications for the country’s military and security institutions. Authorities have stressed that the investigation will follow professional and transparent procedures, with findings to be announced once all technical and legal steps are completed.
Alongside Al-Haddad, the aircraft was carrying the Commander of the Land Forces affiliated with the Government of National Unity, Lieutenant General Al-Fitouri Gharbeel, the Director of Military Manufacturing, Brigadier Mahmoud Jumaa Al-Qatouwi, the Chief of Staff’s adviser Mohamed Al-Assawi, and photographer Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.
Libyan officials have extended condolences to the families of the victims, while reaffirming their commitment to determining the full facts behind the crash through close cooperation with Turkish authorities.