Turkish Minister of the Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced a critical breakthrough in the investigation of a catastrophic plane crash that killed Libya's top military officer and seven others, confirming the recovery of the aircraft's flight recorders as international cooperation intensifies.

In a statement, Yerlikaya said the debris field of the crashed aircraft spans an area of approximately three square kilometres, underscoring the severity of the impact. He noted that teams from the Transport Safety Investigation Centre under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure conducted extensive on-site operations throughout the night.

“As a result of the on-site work, the aircraft’s voice recorder was recovered at 02:45, followed by the flight data recorder at 03:20,” Yerlikaya stated. He added that the relevant authorities have already begun the technical examination and assessment of the recovered devices, which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of the crash.

The aircraft, a Falcon 50 business jet carrying Libya’s Army Chief of Staff General Mohammed Ali al-Haddad, senior military officials, and crew members, crashed late Tuesday night after reporting an electrical malfunction shortly after taking off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport. The jet disappeared from radar while attempting to return for an emergency landing.

Yerlikaya also confirmed that a 22-member Libyan delegation has arrived in Ankara to follow the investigation and coordinate with Turkish authorities. The delegation includes 14 representatives assigned by the Libyan Ministry of Defence, five of whom are relatives of those who lost their lives in the crash, as well as eight officials from the Libyan Ministry of Interior.

The arrival of the Libyan delegation reflects close coordination between Ankara and Tripoli as both sides seek transparency and clarity regarding the circumstances of the accident.

Search, recovery, and investigative operations continue at the crash site under strict security measures enforced by gendarmerie units. Adverse weather conditions and muddy terrain have complicated efforts, but Turkish authorities say all necessary resources have been mobilized to ensure a thorough investigation.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the legal dimension of the probe, while aviation experts are conducting parallel technical analyses. Officials have reiterated calls for the public and media to rely solely on official statements and avoid speculation as the investigation progresses.

Minister Yerlikaya extended condolences to Libya and the families of the victims, offering prayers for those who lost their lives.

“I pray for Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives in this tragic accident,” he said. “I extend my condolences to their families, to the Libyan people, the Libyan government, the Libyan General Staff, and to the friendly and brotherly country of Libya. I also extend my condolences to the families of the crew members who lost their lives in the accident.”

Libya has declared days of national mourning following the crash, while Turkish and Libyan officials continue close coordination as the investigation moves into its next phase. Authorities are expected to release further updates once preliminary findings from the black box analysis become available. (ILKHA)