Khaberni - Turkish investigations continue into the plane crash that claimed the life of the Libyan Chief of Staff, Mohamed Al-Haddad, and his companions near the capital, Ankara, amidst discussions by experts and former officials about multiple scenarios for the causes of the accident, with a technical malfunction being the likely cause at this early stage.
Jahid Toz, a former advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister and a Middle East expert, said that the official information available so far indicates that the plane requested an emergency landing about 35 minutes after taking off from Ankara, before contact was lost and it crashed in the Himana district, about half an hour from the capital.
Electronic systems malfunction in the airplane
Toz clarified that all nearby airports were ready to receive the aircraft, but there wasn't enough time for it to land, suggesting that the malfunction was in the electronic systems of the airplane, which is currently the focus of the experts' investigation, although it is difficult to determine the final causes at this time.
He added that all scenarios remain possible given the current regional and international conditions, but the initial indicators from the relevant authorities in Turkey lean towards the hypothesis of an internal technical fault, confirming that the Turkish authorities will publish any precise information as soon as it is completed, after appointing 4 prosecutors to investigate the accident.
"The pilot requested to return to Ankara"
In his turn, Nour Shafiq, a former advisor to the Turkish President, said that what happened represents a major tragedy, pointing to the deep state of mourning prevailing in official circles in Ankara, given Libya's status as a friendly and brotherly nation to Turkey.
Shafiq explained that the pilot reported a technical malfunction and requested to return to Ankara Airport, before the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed in the Himana area, followed by a large explosion likely caused by fuel ignition, which led to debris scattered over a wide area.
He confirmed that the investigations will include a thorough examination of the maintenance work carried out on the airplane, the supervising entities, as well as a review of the ground crew's role and the technical procedures followed, stressing that the investigation will be comprehensive and detailed.
Regarding Turkish-Libyan relations, both speakers dismissed any negative impact of the accident on the military cooperation between the two countries, affirming that the relations between Ankara and Tripoli are based on solid strategic foundations, and that the accident, despite its severity, will not reflect on the course of partnership between the sides.
