Preliminary report on Libyan plane crash in Ankara reveals striking detail: Engines were running

In the crash that took place near the Haymana district of Ankara last month, four passengers, including Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, and three crew members lost their lives.

The interim report of the technical investigation into why the private jet carrying the Libyan delegation crashed has been shared with the public.

The interim report stated that the Dassault Falcon 50 type aircraft, with the tail number 9H-DFS, had undergone maintenance shortly before, between December 1-9, 2025, and that the necessary certifications had been obtained.

The jet, which took off from Esenboğa Airport at 20:17 on the evening of December 23, issued an emergency notification to air traffic control due to an electrical failure in the 16th minute of the flight.

It was noted that the aircraft, which began to descend following the landing request, disappeared from radar at 20:36 and all contact was completely lost.

In the investigation regarding the accident, it was determined that the aircraft struck a hill at an altitude of 1,252 meters while its engines were running and without losing speed. Following the violent impact, the jet exploded; it was determined that the debris was scattered over an area of approximately 150 thousand square meters.

The report also emphasized that although a short-lived flash was observed immediately after the accident, no signs of fire were found inside the cabin. Authorities announced that the preliminary report contains technical findings and that the definitive causes will be clarified with the comprehensive final report to be prepared.