A Libyan military delegation’s private jet crashed near Türkiye’s capital Ankara on Tuesday evening after the pilot issued multiple emergency signals, citing an electrical failure, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure said on Wednesday.
In a detailed statement shared on X social network, Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the aircraft, bearing tail number 9H-DFS and registered with Malta Civil Aviation, departed Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 8:17 pm local time (17:17GMT) for Mitiga Airport in Libyan capital Tripoli, and later suffered a fatal accident.
According to the official, the aircraft, operating under the call sign HMJ185, took off in line with standard procedures and was successively transferred from the airport control tower to approach control and then to area control units.
The flight was gradually cleared to climb and was last permitted to cruise at an altitude of 34,000 feet at 8:25 pm local time (17:25GMT), Uraloglu said.
Danger alert
At 8:31 pm local time (17:31GMT), while flying at approximately 32,000 feet, the pilot declared “PAN-PAN” three times, indicating an urgent situation one level below a MAYDAY call, and reported a general electrical failure, requesting radar vectors to return to the Turkish capital.
Air traffic control immediately instructed the crew on the heading and descent profile for an emergency return to Esenboga Airport, the statement said.
At 8:33 pm local time (17:33GMT), the pilot activated transponder emergency code 7700, the highest level of aviation emergency alert.
Shortly afterward, air traffic controllers lost the aircraft’s altitude data on radar.
Inaudible
Due to increasing interference in pilot-controller communications, controllers attempted audio checks at 8:34 pm local time (17:34GMT).
The aircraft was transferred back to approach control after confirming its descent level for an emergency return.
At 8:35 pm local time (17:35GMT), the crew again declared “PAN-PAN” and made contact with approach control, receiving updated radar vectors and assigned descent levels.
However, by 8:36 pm local time (17:36GMT), communication clarity deteriorated significantly, with the pilot’s voice becoming barely audible.
Disappears from radar
Partial losses of flight data were also observed on radar screens.
At 8:38 pm local time (17:38GMT), air traffic controllers reported that the aircraft had completely disappeared from radar.
Multiple attempts were made over different frequencies for approximately five minutes, but no response was received.
Search and rescue units were immediately notified, Uraloglu said.
Crash confirmed
As a precaution, due to the possibility of an emergency landing and the loss of aircraft position, all takeoffs and landings at Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended to ensure air navigation safety, and maximum emergency measures were implemented.
Simultaneously, air and ground search and rescue operations were launched by the relevant authorities.
The Air Force Air Defence Notification Centre later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed near Kesikkavak village in Ankara’s Haymana district.
Following the crash, the Transportation Safety Investigation Centre was dispatched to the site in coordination with relevant institutions.
Detailed analysis of recorders
Examinations at the wreckage site led to the recovery of both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR), Uraloglu said.
A preliminary report has been initiated, and after initial assessments, both recorders will be sent to a neutral country for detailed analysis to determine the cause of the crash.
“Once the investigation is completed, all findings will be shared transparently with our nation and the international community,” Uraloglu said.
He also expressed condolences, saying: “We pray for God’s mercy for those who lost their lives in this tragic accident and extend our condolences to the friendly and fraternal state of Libya and its people.”
DNA analysis
Meanwhile, the bodies of those killed in the crash were transferred to the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute.
The deceased include Libya’s Chief of General Staff Mohamed Ali al-Haddad, four accompanying members of the Libyan military delegation, and three crew members.
After examinations by the authorities of the two countries, autopsy procedures were initiated at the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute Group Presidency.
DNA samples will be collected from relatives of the victims to assist with identification procedures, officials said.
Handover of remains to families
Once the forensic processes are completed, the bodies will be handed over to the families.
The remains are scheduled to be sent to their home country following an official ceremony to be held on Wednesday at the Murted Air Base Command in Ankara.
