Multiple flights to Istanbul have been diverted following reports that the Turkish military has taken control of the city’s main airport.
Military tanks have reportedly seized control of Ataturk International Airport, with forces claiming they now control the country.
Update – Reuters: All flights from #Istanbul's Ataturk airport cancelled following attempted military coup in #Turkey according to a pilot
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) July 15, 2016
Reuters: Airline spokeswomen say British Airways and Lufthansa flights to #Turkey are diverting or returning to origin due to attempted coup
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) July 15, 2016
British Airways flight BA680 from Heathrow has turned back, according to Sky‘s Alastair Bunkall, while the website for Ataturk International is inaccessible at the time of writing.
British Airways, Heathrow – Istanbul flight has turned around over the Black Sea pic.twitter.com/h8IHRVDumT
— Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) July 15, 2016
British Airways has confirmed that the flight has been diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Richard, yes that flight has been diverted to Sophia.^LW
— British Airways (@British_Airways) July 15, 2016
According to the @airlivenet Twitter account, which provides live updates on air traffic, all outbound flights have been cancelled and many – if not all – incoming flights have been diverted. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether a small number of Turkish Airlines flights were able to land at the airport.
FlightRadar reports that the last flight out of Istanbul, an Onur Air flight to Elazig, left Ataturk Airport at approximately 10pm UK time. Further international flights are believed to have been grounded, according to unconfirmed reports.
Flights operated by British Airways and KLM have both been confirmed as having been diverted, and both airlivenet and FlightRadar are among the Twitter accounts providing real-time updates.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has issued this travel advisory and helpline number:
We are aware of situation in Turkey. See updated travel advice here: https://t.co/z11g3pt4Bn. Call 01 408 2000 if you have any concerns
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) July 15, 2016
The warning reads:
“We are advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Turkey at this time.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy in Ankara are monitoring the evolving situation in Ankara and Istanbul where a heightened security presence and some incidents of violence are reported.
“The situation is unclear, and Irish citizens considering travel to Turkey are advised to delay travel until the situation becomes clearer.”
