Police locate passengers allowed into Turkey without passport control

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Police have located passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Algeria to Istanbul that were mistakenly taken to the domestic terminal, therefore allowing them to enter Turkey without passing through passport control late on Nov. 30.

Turkish Airlines flight number TK-652 travelling from Algiers to Istanbul landed at Istanbul Atatürk Airport at 9:20 p.m., and while 113 passengers were brought to the international arrivals terminal, one bus mistakenly transferred passengers to the domestic arrivals terminal. 

Once ground staff noticed the mistake, 36 of 40 passengers were brought back to the international terminal. However, four passengers passed through the domestic terminal without customs checks and entered town because they did not have any luggage. 

Police launched an investigation and managed to locate all four Algerian passengers. They were brought back to Istanbul Atatürk Airport to complete legal procedures. 

The incident occurred at a critical time when border control has been stepped up in a bid to prevent foreign fighters from joining the ranks of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

Turkey has recently started to detain individuals deemed suspicious and conduct interviews with a team of criminal profilers before allowing them entry. 

According to reports, over 800 people have been deported so far in the scheme, while 200 have been denied entry into the country.