Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: A routine flight to Libya turned into a dramatic runway emergency on Monday when a Turkish-registered private jet veered off the runway and caught fire while landing at Misrata International Airport. The aircraft, linked to Turkish businessman Hamdi Akın, had flown from Istanbul on an empty positioning flight to collect passengers later.
The Cessna 680A Citation Latitude, registered as TC-AKF, carried no passengers. Two pilots and a cabin crew member were on board, and all three escaped after the aircraft caught fire. Libyan authorities temporarily suspended flights and closed the airport’s airspace as emergency teams responded to the incident.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, with authorities yet to release a final finding. Initial reports have offered different explanations, but investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data and circumstances surrounding the landing before determining what went wrong.
WATCH: Plane crashes and erupts in massive fire while landing at Misrata Airport, Libya; jet owned by Turkish billionaire Hamdi Akin pic.twitter.com/xAz1ylnNQW
— Klaxon Wire (@KlaxonWire) September 14, 2026
The aircraft is linked to Akfen Holding, the conglomerate founded and chaired by Akin. The company confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the group and was operated by BKNJET Aviation.
Who is Hamdi Akin?
Hamdi Akin is a prominent Turkish businessman and the founder and chairman of Akfen Holding. Born in Istanbul in 1954, Akin studied mechanical engineering at Gazi University before entering the business world.
He founded Akfen in 1976, initially building his business around construction and infrastructure-related activities. Over the following decades, he expanded the company into several major sectors, including infrastructure, energy, real estate, ports, maritime transportation and tourism.
Akin’s business career later took him into the aviation industry, where he became one of the key figures behind the development and operation of major Turkish airport projects.
Hamdi Akin’s Private Jet Crashes At Misrata Airport
The aircraft departed Istanbul Atatürk Airport at around 5:45 am local time on September 14 and headed for Misrata. Reports said the jet was operating an empty ferry or positioning flight because it was travelling to Libya to pick up passengers.
During landing at Misrata International Airport, the aircraft left the runway and caught fire. Firefighters and airport emergency crews quickly reached the scene and worked to control the blaze.
Images and videos circulating after the incident showed a badly damaged aircraft surrounded by emergency crews, with thick smoke rising from the runway.
Hamdi Akin Net Worth
Hamdi Akın and his family have an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, according to Forbes.
The Turkish businessman and self-made billionaire built his fortune through Akfen Holding, the infrastructure conglomerate he founded. His wealth is spread across several sectors, including renewable energy, real estate, healthcare and infrastructure. A major boost to his fortune came from his role in co-founding TAV Airports Holding.
Akın later sold significant stakes in the airport company to Aeroports de Paris Group in deals completed in 2012 and 2017, generating more than $1 billion in combined proceeds.
Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: Three Crew Members Escape Burning Jet
The aircraft had three Turkish crew members, two pilots and one cabin crew member, on board. No passengers were travelling on the flight.
Emergency teams evacuated the crew from the aircraft after the crash. Reports said the three were taken for medical checks and remained in good condition. Akfen Holding-linked reporting also said the crew were safely evacuated by airport fire and rescue personnel.
The absence of passengers meant the incident did not result in passenger casualties.
Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: Hamdi Akin Reacts After Jet Crash
Turkish businessman Hamdi Akın, whose private jet was reportedly involved in the accident, reacted to the incident after the aircraft caught fire in Libya.
Speaking to Patronlar Dünyası, Akın said, “Thank goodness the plane was empty; God has protected us.”
The aircraft reportedly had been acquired only recently. Turkish reports said Akın had taken delivery of the jet about two months earlier, although reports differ on its exact purchase details and value.
Hamdi Akin And Akfen Holding
Akfen Holding has grown from the company Akin established in the 1970s into a diversified business group.
According to Akfen Holding’s official profile, the group operates through investments and subsidiaries involved in infrastructure and superstructure construction, seaport operations, maritime transportation, water and wastewater services, energy and real estate.
Akin remains chairman of the holding company. He also serves as chairman of Akfen Renewable Energy and Akfen GYO, according to the company’s current board profile.
His rise has made him one of Türkiye’s best-known businessmen. Türkiye Today, citing Forbes, reported that Akin’s fortune stood at around $2.6 billion, placing him among Türkiye’s richest people.
Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: What Happened To The Cessna Citation Latitude?
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 680A Citation Latitude, a twin-engine business jet manufactured by Textron Aviation in the United States.
The Citation Latitude is designed for business and private aviation and can carry passengers over relatively long distances. In this case, the aircraft was flying without passengers and was travelling to Libya to collect people.
Reports said the jet was severely damaged in the runway accident and subsequent fire.
Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: Why Did The Private Jet Crash?
Authorities have not yet established the official cause of the accident.
Early reports circulated different explanations for why the aircraft left the runway. Some accounts raised the possibility of a technical problem, while other reports suggested an issue during the approach or landing.
Those explanations remain unconfirmed. Libyan aviation authorities are expected to examine the aircraft and flight operations before releasing an official conclusion.
It is therefore too early to say whether an engine problem, landing error, runway issue or another factor caused the accident.
Misrata Airport Crash: Misrata Airport Flights Suspended After Fire
The crash immediately disrupted operations at Misrata International Airport.
Libya’s Transport Ministry said flights were suspended after the aircraft left the runway and caught fire. Authorities closed the airport’s airspace while emergency teams dealt with the wreckage and worked to restore safe conditions for aircraft operations.
Officials said steps were being taken to contain the situation and prepare the airport for the resumption of flights.
Hamdi Akin Private Jet Crash: Jet Was Flying Empty From Istanbul
One of the key details in the incident is that the jet was not carrying passengers.
The aircraft left Istanbul on a positioning flight and was reportedly heading to Misrata to collect passengers. That meant only the flight crew occupied the aircraft when it encountered trouble during landing.
According to reports, the three crew members managed to escape before the fire caused further danger.
