A serious incident involving a Turkish aircraft that occurred yesterday is causing concern. The aircraft suddenly veered off course and, for a few minutes, was on a collision course with a passenger plane that was about to land in Larnaca.
The military aircraft did not respond to calls from the Control Center, prompting the air traffic controller to instruct the passenger plane’s pilot to change course immediately, so that no one would be put at risk.
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“A Turkish Air Force aircraft flying from Somalia via Nicosia to land in Turkey deviated from its course and altitude, suddenly turned to the right, and began climbing onto a flight path where a potential passenger aircraft was en route to land in Larnaca,”
George Georgiou – President of the Pan-Cyprian Air Traffic Controllers’ Union
SEE ALSO: Civil Aviation Department: Its statement on the near-collision between an airplane and a Turkish drone in the Nicosia FIR
Air traffic controllers have reported an increased presence of Ankara’s aircraft and drones in recent times.
“Recently, there have been many unmanned aerial vehicles flying mainly over the occupied territories, but recently they have also been flying near the Larnaca and Paphos airports, affecting flights to and from those airports and greatly complicating the work of air traffic controllers, who must reroute aircraftto avoid unpleasant incidents in the air,”
George Georgiou
Civil aviation authorities say the situation is manageable and are reassuring the public.
“The level of aviation safety in Cypriot airspace remains exceptionally high. The presence of Turkish aircraft in the airspace under the control of the Republic of Cyprus is a long-standing and recurring operational reality, which air traffic control is called upon to manage on an almost daily basis. This is not an unprecedented operational phenomenon.”
Civil Aviation
The Ministry of Defense is closely monitoring the situation.
READ ALSO: Mid-air collision averted at the last minute: A thriller as Turkish warplanes and drones continue to violate Cypriot airspace
Watch Katerina Ioannou’s report:
