Summary:

On 8 January 2026, French and Libyan media outlets reported that Harmony Jets, a Malta-based private aviation company led by former French pilot Pierre-Olivier Édouard, is under investigation by the Lyon Public Prosecutor’s Office for suspected violations of the UN Security Council arms embargo on Libya.  

The probe, handled by France’s National Anti-Fraud Office for Anti-Fraud (ONAF), follows the seizure of a drone at Lyon–Bron Airport aboard one of the company’s Falcon aircraft.  

Harmony Jets, which has operated regular flights to Benghazi since 2018, was also mentioned in a December 2024 UN Security Council report linking its flights to the Irish paramilitary company ETS. The company denies transporting weapons or hazardous goods and maintains it operates within regulations, serving multiple European government clients. 

Outlook: 

The investigation could tighten enforcement of the UN Security Council arms embargo on Libya, particularly regarding flights into Benghazi and areas under Haftar-affiliated forces, where there has been an influx of weapons and military equipment despite ongoing embargoes.  

Findings may also trigger closer scrutiny of private aviation operators servicing eastern Libya, with authorities likely to increase monitoring of personnel and equipment transfers to conflict zones.  

The case underscores ongoing challenges in preventing indirect support to armed actors in Libya, signaling that the international community is closely tracking logistics channels used by mercenaries and other non-state actors in the region. 

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