The Libyan Chief of Staff’s plane crashed in Turkey after meeting Bayraktoglu

According to Yerlikaya, the plane took off at 17:10 (GMT), and contact with it was lost at 17:52. Shortly before that, the plane requested to make an emergency landing when it was over the Haymana district, near Ankara – but after the request there was no further contact with the crew. There were four other passengers on the plane. Flight tracking data showed that other flights were diverted from Ankara’s Esenboga airport, raising fears of an unusual incident in the air.

Videos and photos have been posted online showing what appears to be the crash of the plane, the results of which are still unknown. The “Clash” network announces that according to preliminary information, the plane carrying the delegation of the General Staff of the Libyan Army suffered an electrical malfunction shortly after taking off from Essenboga Airport. The plane’s crew broadcast a distress call and began to turn back to the airport.

While the plane was preparing for an emergency landing, the crew began to drain fuel from the plane. At this stage, the authorities have not yet determined whether the explosion occurred in the air during the emptying of fuel – or after the plane crashed to the ground. Search and rescue forces are now focusing their efforts in the area.