President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the crews of two A400M aircraft returning from Ukraine, where they had been stranded due to airspace closure.
Yesterday evening, two "A400M" aircraft that were stranded at Boryspil Airport due to the closure of the airspace in Ukraine, where they had gone to deliver humanitarian assistance and evacuate Turkish citizens, arrived in Kayseri.
Returning from Ukraine to the 12th Air Transportation Main Base Command, the aircraft, also known as "Koca Yusuf", were welcomed by the base staff and the families of the aircraft crew.
Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar, who was in Kayseri for the Defence Ministers Meeting of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, also met with the aircraft crew and their families at the 221st Fleet Command.
At the end of his speech, Minister Akar, who also chatted with the families of the aircraft personnel and gave gifts to the children, was accompanied by the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, General Zakir Hasanov, who was in Kayseri for the Türkiye-Azerbaijan-Georgia Defence Ministers Meeting.
"Their safe return has made us happy"
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Minister of National Defence Akar to talk to the aircraft crew and their families.
President Erdoğan began his remarks by saying "Welcome" to the aircraft crew, and he added:
"The safe return of our transport aircraft and crews, who had been stranded in Ukraine for a long time, has made us happy, as has the fact that we have overcome many challenges. I would like to thank the authorities representing Ukraine and Russia on my behalf and on behalf of my nation. You brought our planes back during this difficult time, so I congratulate you on behalf of my nation.
May Allah be with you. I am confident we will embark on many more journeys and take roads together."
President Erdoğan once again congratulated the aircraft crew at the end of his speech.
The process of creating the favourable conditions
Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar noted the following:
"When there is war somewhere, it has many ramifications. We saw some of them. There were serious problems there in February. There were our citizens waiting for evacuation. Nonetheless, we went there in an effort to provide humanitarian assistance to the locals. Aviation is governed by a set of major rules. Our planes were stranded due to the closure of the airspace. In constant consultation and coordination with the parties, we discussed and worked to create all favourable conditions for our aircraft to return home. We took action as soon as the most favourable conditions appeared. "
"This story ended without any hiccups"
Emphasizing that President Erdoğan was also in constant contact with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents and closely followed the issue in order for the aircraft of the Turkish Armed Forces to return home, Akar said, "Even while on the ground, aircraft require maintenance. During this time, our crews maintained the aircraft. They returned home safely, and this story ended without any hiccups. I congratulate our pilots, maintenance personnel and all of our friends who contributed."