Expert: Crash won’t affect Libya-Turkey ties

The circumstances surrounding the crash of a Libyan military aircraft in Turkey remain under investigation, with early indications pointing to a possible technical fault, political analyst and international relations expert Yusuf Oglu said. The plane reportedly went down about half an hour after taking off south of Ankara.

Speaking in a phone interview with a local media outlet, Oglu said that Turkish ministries of Justice and Interior are still in the early stages of the investigation.

Technical examinations of the aircraft are expected to provide a clearer understanding of the cause of the accident.

The crash represents a significant loss for the Libyan military, as the aircraft was carrying senior officials, including the Chief of Staff, the Head of Land Forces, and several military advisers.

Oglu emphasised that the incident is not expected to affect Turkish-Libyan relations, which he described as growing and based on strategic partnership, shared interests, and mutual benefits.

He noted there are no changes anticipated in the political or military cooperation between Ankara and Tripoli.

He also cautioned against attempts to politicise the incident on social media, urging that it be treated primarily as a humanitarian and technical matter.

Oglu added that the official mourning period in Libya and the exchange of condolences reflect the country’s internal cohesion and its ability to navigate the crisis while addressing potential leadership gaps amid ongoing regional challenges.