Home Medical Factors Facing Pilots Aviation Stories Of Interest FAA Exam Aviation News Maintenance and Aircraft Mechanics General Aviation Helicopters
Aviation History Legal Issues In Aviation Links To Other Sites Editorials Hot Air Balloon Aviation Training Handbooks Read Online Upcoming Events Editorials

 



 
Turkish Pilots Kidnapped By Zuwwar al-Imam Rida Gunmen
 
By Mike Mitchell
 

August 10, 2013 - On Friday two Turkish Airlines pilots were kidnapped whilst traveling on a bus going from Beirut airport to their crew hotel. They are now being held hostage by a terrorist group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida. The group reported they would release the pilots in exchange for nine Lebanese citizens held hostage in Syria. 

Canada’s International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) has reported that they condemns this action of this terrorist group and has called for the immediate release of the two pilots. The pilots have been identified as Murat Akpinar and his co-pilot Murat Agca. 

The kidnapping of the pilots was in retaliation for the seizure of nine Lebanese Shia Muslims near Aleppo on their way home from a religious pilgrimage to Lebanon from Iran in May 2012 by Syrian rebels. Syrian National Council had condemned the kidnapping. The kidnappings come at a time of high tension in Lebanon as a result of a 15 month old conflict in Syria. 

 

Both pilots were traveling from Rariq Hariri Airport in the airlines van on their way to a hotel in Beirut after flying in from Istanbul on a scheduled flight. The van the pilots were traveling in was stopped and seized by six Zuwwar al-Imam Rida gunmen.

IFALPA said any attack on civil aviation constitutes a willful hazard to the safety and security of passengers and crew. States and Operators should consider the prevention of such attacks as a high priority, and do everything in their power to ensure the security of air crews and their families, in particular during layovers. 

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations represents in excess of 100,000 pilots in more than 100 countries world-wide. IFALPA’s mission is to be the global voice of airline pilots, promoting the highest level of aviation safety and security world-wide and providing services, support and representation to all of its Member Associations.

 

 

 
 
Other News Stories (For the latest news please checkout our home page)
 
 
 
 
blog comments powered by Disqus  
Home Aviation News Aviation Stories Of Interest FAA Exam Upcoming Events Links To Other Sites General Aviation Helicopters Medical Factors Facing Pilots
Maintenance and Aircraft Mechanics Hot Air Balloon Aviation Training Handbooks Read Online Aviation History Legal Issues In Aviation Sea Planes Editorials
 
 ©AvStop Online Magazine                                                                 Contact Us                                                  Return To News                                          Bookmark and Share  
 
 

AvStop Aviation News and Resource Online Magazine