A private jet carrying Libya’s top military commander, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other officers, and three crew members crashed near Ankara, Turkey, killing all on board.

The delegation had been in Turkey for defense talks to strengthen military cooperation, and Turkish officials said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction.

The aircraft, a Falcon 50 business jet, lost contact with air traffic control about 40 minutes after takeoff, issued an emergency landing signal due to an electrical fault, and disappeared from radar while descending.

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah called the crash a “great loss,” noting al-Haddad’s key role in unifying Libya’s split military, the AP has reported.

Turkish authorities have launched an investigation, with Libya sending a team to assist, while the crash occurred amid recent efforts to maintain ties between Ankara and both eastern and western Libyan authorities.