Turkish authorities used ‘aggression’ against the crew of a Syrian jet after it was intercepted and forced to land in Ankara, Syria's national airline said on Thursday, adding that its cargo had been entirely legal.
‘The Turkish authorities used aggression against the crew before allowing the plane to take off from Ankara airport,’ said SyrianAir director Aida Abdel Latif, without specifying the nature of the alleged mistreatment.
According to Abdel Latif, the ‘aggression’ occurred after the crew ‘refused to sign [a document stating] that the plane had made an emergency landing.’
‘Turkish military aircraft ... forced the plane to land without giving prior warning to the pilot. The military aircraft were so close that there could have been an accident,’ said Abdel Latif.
According to Syria's official SANA news agency, the plane, which was en route from Moscow to Damascus, finally landed in the Syrian capital on Thursday at 0730 IST. It had been held in Ankara for about nine hours on Friday. Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkish authorities seized ‘objectionable cargo’ from the plane, but Syrian Air denied that any irregular items had been on board.
‘The aircraft was not carrying any illegal material and its cargo was compatible with international laws and regulations,’ Abdel Latif said.
‘The Turkish authorities used aggression against the crew before allowing the plane to take off from Ankara airport,’ said SyrianAir director Aida Abdel Latif, without specifying the nature of the alleged mistreatment.
According to Abdel Latif, the ‘aggression’ occurred after the crew ‘refused to sign [a document stating] that the plane had made an emergency landing.’
‘Turkish military aircraft ... forced the plane to land without giving prior warning to the pilot. The military aircraft were so close that there could have been an accident,’ said Abdel Latif.
According to Syria's official SANA news agency, the plane, which was en route from Moscow to Damascus, finally landed in the Syrian capital on Thursday at 0730 IST. It had been held in Ankara for about nine hours on Friday. Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkish authorities seized ‘objectionable cargo’ from the plane, but Syrian Air denied that any irregular items had been on board.
‘The aircraft was not carrying any illegal material and its cargo was compatible with international laws and regulations,’ Abdel Latif said.