VZCZCXRO7892
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #2865/01 3341712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 301712Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4503
INFO RUEHBS/FAA BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/TSA HQ WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEBBEA/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2492
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3581

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002865 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FAA BRUSSELS FOR KURT EDWARDS 
ATHENS PLEASE PASS TSA FOR DAN FURLONG 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ASEC TU
SUBJECT: CRASH OF ATLASJET FLIGHT FROM ISTANBUL TO ISPARTA, TURKEY 
30 NOVEMBER, 2007 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please handle accordingly. 
 
SUMMARY OF EVENTS 
----------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  An Atlasjet flight from Istanbul to Isparta, 
Turkey crashed 12 km from the Isparta Airport at approximately 01:45 
local time on 30 November, 2007.  The plane was a McDonald-Douglas 
¶83.  The remains of all 57 onboard have been located by Search and 
Rescue teams.  The pilot, Serhat Ozdemir, is reported by his sister 
to be a naturalized U.S. Citizen, but we have been unable to confirm 
this.  The cause of the crash has not been determined but has been 
speculated as either mechanical failure or pilot error.  NTSB, FAA, 
Boeing and Pratt and Whitney Engines representatives will arrive in 
Antalya, Turkey on 2 December to assist with the investigation. 
Turkish Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) Director Ali 
Ariduru spoke personally with us on the evening of 30 November and 
asked specifically that NO U.S. AGENCY ANNOUNCE AT THIS TIME OUR 
ASSISTANCE WITH THE INVESTIGATION.  We agreed to respect DGCA's 
wishes as they deal with press speculation.  End summary. 
 
DGCA PRESS STATEMENT 
-------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The following is a grammatically-corrected version of the 
Turkish DGCA's press release about the crash: 
 
The MD 83, TC-AKM registered aircraft with 165 seat capacity was 
operated by World Focus Airlines and wet leased by Atlasjet Aviation 
Corporation.  Following the aircraft's take off from Istanbul 
Ataturk Airport at 00:51 local time, communication was interrupted 
with the aircraft at final approach to Isparta Suleyman Demirel 
Airport at 01:45 local time.  There were 2 pilots, 4 cabin crew, 1 
technician and 49 passengers in the aircraft. 
 
The aircraft crashed at Turbe Tepe, located 12 km from the Isparta 
Airport between Cukuroren and Yenitepe villages southwest of 
Keciborlu.  A Search and Rescue (SAR) team has been moved to the 
area by the Isparta governorship.  At the moment there are Police 
and Turkish Air Force helicopters at the wreckage area.  A Turkish 
DGCA Accident Investigation Team has moved to the wreckage area. 
 
Crisis Centers formed at the DGCA and in Istanbul and Isparta are 
following the situation. 
 
Progression of events on 30 November, 2007: 
 
06:55 SAR teams arrived at the crash site.  According to the first 
investigation, no survivors were found.  Medical teams and 
ambulances moved to the area.  Dr. Ali Ariduru, DGCA Director 
General, and Orhan Birdal, Acting Director General of the State 
Airports Administration, arrived at the site. 
 
08:45 Minister of Transport Binali Yildirim arrived in Isparta with 
two DGCA Accident Investigation Experts. 
 
10:30 Yildirim, together with Isparta Governor Semsettin Uzun and 
accompanying officials, arrived at the crash site. 
 
The Accident Investigation Team at the site is comprised of 2 
captain pilots, 3 engineers and 1 air traffic controller. 
 
12:00 The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder 
(FDR) were found at the crash site and an investigation is being 
performed by the DGCA Accident Investigation Team. 
 
12:20 An Atlasjet flight transporting the victims' families arrived 
at Isparta airport. 
 
12:50 53 of 56 people who lost their lives in the aircraft were 
found by the SAR operations. 
 
13:30 According to the Passenger Manifest, 49 passengers and 1 
infant were in the aircraft, raising the total number of casualties 
to 57.  All victims have been found by the SAR.  End text. 
 
CAUSE OF CRASH UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The cause of the crash has not been determined at this 
time.  Speculation and the images of the wreckage suggest either 
mechanical failure or pilot error.  Representatives from the 
 
ANKARA 00002865  002 OF 002 
 
 
National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB), the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Boeing and Pratt and Whitney Engines will 
arrive in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday, 2 December to assist with the 
investigation.  They will be met and assisted by representatives 
from the Turkish DGCA during their time in Turkey.  TURKISH DGCA 
DIRECTOR GENERAL ARIDURU SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT 
BE MADE AT THIS TIME BY ANY USG AGENCY THAT WE WILL ASSIST WITH THE 
INVESTIGATION. 
 
ONE POSSIBLE AMCIT ONBOARD 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Media reports quote the sister of the aircraft's captain, 
Serhat Ozdemir, who says that Ozdemir lived in the U.S. and 
subsequently became a naturalized American citizen.  We have been 
unable to confirm his citizenship and believe that the sister might 
be mistaken.  His next of kin reside in Izmir, Turkey and Consular 
officer are therefore not needed to provide death notification or 
repatriation of remains. 
 
Wilson