Libya general's plane 'intact' before Ankara crash: preliminary report

A private jet carrying Libya's military top brass that crashed near Ankara, killing all on board, was in one piece with both engines working when it hit the hillside, a technical report found Thursday.

The preliminary report was drawn up by the accident investigation team looking into the December 23 crash and added to the investigation file opened by Ankara's chief public prosecutor.

On board was the head of Libya's armed forces, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, and four aides, all of whom died along with three crew members.

The black box of the Falcon 50 was found a day later and sent to London for analysis.

At the time, several Turkish media outlets broadcast footage showing the sky lit up by an explosion and locals reported hearing a loud blast "like a bomb".

But the report's findings undercut speculation that an explosion could have brought the plane down.

Quoting the report, state news agency Anadolu said the plane "crashed into a hilltop at an altitude of 1,252 meters, with its engines running at high speed, while maintaining its integrity".

It said the engines were "operational at the time of the crash".

Investigators said the impact generated "such high kinetic energy that the rocky terrain could not absorb it", causing the aircraft to disintegrate, scattering wreckage over around 150,000 square metres.

They referred to a brief flash at the moment of impact but found no evidence of fire inside the aircraft.

The report did not draw a conclusion on the cause of the crash, with a final report due after further technical examinations and analysis of the flight recorder data, Anadolu news agency said.

Turkish officials have said they believe an electrical failure caused the plane to crash shortly after take off.

Libya has been split since a NATO-backed revolt toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Haddad was chief of staff for the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU), which controls the west.

The east is run by military ruler Khalifa Haftar.