Harmony Jets Flight 185

At a glance

Dates: From 2025-12-23.

Place: Kesikkavak, Turkey.

Type: airplane crash.

Deaths reported: 8.

What came before

Background Aircraft The aircraft involved was a leased 37-year-old Dassault Falcon 50 , operated by Harmony Jets and registered in Malta . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Passengers and crew The aircraft was carrying officials returning from a trip to Ankara to discuss security cooperation between Libya and Turkey. [ 4 ] The five passengers were identified as Libyan Army chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad , ground forces chief of staff Al-Fitouri Gharibil,

What happened

Aftermath Ankara airport was temporarily closed because of the crash, and several flights were diverted. [ 1 ] Turkey sent a 408-member search and rescue team to the scene, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency established a mobile coordination center. Recovery efforts continued the following morning after being hampered by overnight fog and rain. Specialized vehicles including tracked ambulances were deployed due to muddy terrain.

Investigation Turkish officials ruled out sabotage and said the initial cause was a technical failure after the pilot notified ATC that there was an electrical fault. Libya sent a team of 22 people, including five relatives of the victims, to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities on investigating the crash. They arrived the following day. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found. [ 3 ]

Harmony Jets Flight 185 was a charter flight from Ankara Esenboğa Airport, Turkey to Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya. On 23 December 2025, the aircraft operating the flight, a Dassault Falcon 50, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was carrying the Libyan Army chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, three crew members, and four other passengers. All passengers and crew were killed.