Damages complicate probe into Libyan plane crash

Turkish authorities have revealed that critical flight recorders recovered from the aircraft crash that killed Libya’s Chief of Staff and several others sustained severe damage, as reported by the Libya Review on January 7th.

Officials say only a handful of countries worldwide have the expertise required to analyse the devices, underscoring the complexity and sensitivity of the investigation.

Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, confirmed that both the flight data recorder, known as the black box, and the cockpit voice recorder were compromised in the crash. Speaking to journalists at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, he explained that the condition of the recorders limits where they can be examined, noting that just four countries possess the necessary technical capabilities.

According to Uraloğlu, Turkish aviation specialists, working alongside Libyan officials and the aircraft’s manufacturer, agreed that the United Kingdom would conduct the analysis. The decision was reached after assessing the extent of the damage and determining where the best chance of recovering usable data existed. Turkish media reported his remarks following a briefing held ahead of a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party.

As calls grow across for an end to foreign interference and a Libyan-led solution to its domestic matters, this latest statement by Turkey demonstrates the country’s reliance on foreign and international solutions to issues that many Libyans insist must be resolved domestically.

Recent demonstrations in Libya on January 5th saw hundreds of citizens gather outside the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) headquarters, denouncing what they described as persistent external influence on Libya’s political trajectory and demanding that the country’s leadership and electoral process be determined by Libyans alone.

These public sentiments highlight a broader tension: while foreign expertise and cooperation are seen as necessary in technical or investigative contexts, they also fuel criticism among Libyans who view external engagement as undermining the country’s national sovereignty and prolonging its political paralysis.

Uraloğlu cautioned that the examination would not be quick. He said the level of damage to the recorders means the process will require significant time and technical precision and warned against expecting immediate or definitive conclusions. “This investigation could take a month or even longer,” he said.

However it could take even longer –  according to Libya’s Minister of Transportation, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, investigations into the plane crash will take at least a year.

Alongside the technical review, judicial proceedings are also underway. Uraloğlu stated that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office continues to conduct a legal investigation into the crash. He added that a joint team from Turkey will travel to the United Kingdom to monitor the examination process in coordination with all involved parties.

Libya Review, Maghrebi.org