Plane crashes during air show in southern Turkey, killing pilot

ADANA

Photo shows 60-year-old pilot Murat Öztürk. DHA photo

A demonstration plane crashed in the southern province of Adana May 19, leaving its 60-year-old pilot, Murat Öztürk, dead.

The accident occurred as the pilot was attempting to perform a dive.

Öztürk was also an air cameraman who had worked for the Turkish public broadcaster TRT as a news cameraman for years before starting his double career.

Also the founder of a pilot school, Öztürk had been performing demonstration flights for three years.

Accident stirs debate

Adana Gov. Hüseyin Avni Coş said the demonstration flight was not in the celebration program, noting that an in-depth investigation into the accident would be launched, Doğan news agency has reported.

The governor said he regretted the loss of the pilot Öztürk, adding that the plane could have crashed in an inhabited area.

However, Adana Deputy Mayor Zihni Aldırmaz noted that the show, which was also supposed to be organized by the Aviation Federation, was listed in the governorate's program and its responsibility.

The pilot was performing an acrobatic flight as part of the 2nd Adana International Airgame Festival.

Earlier in the day, Öztürk had reportedly performed a flight over the city center for May 19 Youth and Remembrance of Atatürk Day celebrations.

The reason for the accident remains unknown.