Turkey Refutes Claims Connecting Its Firm to Air India Crash
Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that claimed 241 lives, Turkey has firmly rejected allegations linking its company to the aircraft's maintenance.
Details of the Crash
The Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, colliding with the BJ Medical College hostel complex. Remarkably, one passenger survived the devastating accident that also affected several people on the ground.
Official Statement from Turkey
The Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation in Turkey clarified that the claim implicating Turkish Technic, a major maintenance company, is false. According to their statement, Turkish Technic only provides maintenance services for Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft under agreements with Air India signed in 2024 and 2025. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner does not fall within this agreement’s scope.
“The claim that Turkish Technic maintained the crashed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner constitutes disinformation aimed at distorting Turkiye-India relations,” the statement read.
They also noted awareness of the company responsible for the aircraft's most recent maintenance but refrained from further comments to avoid speculation.
Context Behind the Tensions
This development comes after Turkey faced significant backlash in India due to its support of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Notably, a Turkish ground-handling firm lost its security clearance in India amid concerns over national security, following reports that Pakistani drone attacks involved Turkey-manufactured devices.
- On May 15, the Civil Aviation Ministry of India revoked security clearance for Celebi Ground Handling India Private Limited, a Turkish-affiliated company.
- The decision followed the use of Turkish-made drones like Asisguard SONGAR and Bayraktar TB2 by Pakistan during border tensions.
- The controversy led to a noticeable decline in Indian tourist visits to Turkey.
Looking Ahead
The Turkish authority assured that efforts would continue to counter disinformation targeting Turkish brands globally. Expressing condolences, they acknowledged the profound grief suffered by the Indian people after the accident.
As investigations proceed, accurate clarity about the maintenance history of the crashed Dreamliner remains essential to prevent misinformation fueling diplomatic strains.
