The investigation into the deaths of instructor pilot Furkan Otkum and student pilot Murat Avşar, who lost their lives when a single-engine training plane departing from Yunuseli Airport in Bursa crashed into a residential area on April 25, 2022, has been completed. The indictment prepared by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has been submitted to the 5th High Criminal Court of Bursa. Three individuals have been charged with “causing death or injury through negligence,” with a prison sentence of up to 15 years requested.
Details of the Indictment: A Chain of Negligence?
As part of the investigation initiated after the crash, the owner of the flight school, Fevzi A., aircraft maintenance technician Mustafa K., and the airport operations manager, Cüneyt A., were named as defendants.
- Technician Mustafa K.: Stated that he performed the periodic maintenance of the plane two days before the crash. He claimed the maintenance was conducted in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions and on time, rejecting the allegations against him.
- Flight School Owner Fevzi A.: Argued that the plane belonged to another company and that its maintenance and flight certifications were complete. He emphasized that the same plane had completed a flight to İzmir without issues on the day of the crash.
- BURULAŞ Representative Cüneyt A.: Declared that flight instructors were primarily responsible for flight safety. He mentioned that briefing instructions were issued by the State Airports Authority and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), adding that BURULAŞ management had no authority over flight restrictions and denied the accusations.
Serious Claims of Negligence from the Pilots’ Families
Sinan Otkum, the father of deceased pilot Furkan Otkum, alleged that aircraft maintenance was not performed regularly and that malfunction reports were ignored. He stated that his son had frequently complained about the overuse of the planes and the inaccurate recording of flight hours. He also claimed that his son had been scheduled to fly a different plane on the day of the crash, but a last-minute change was made.
Expert Reports: Pilots Found Primarily at Fault
According to an expert report, the pilots were found primarily at fault for failing to properly manage weight control and fuel adjustments. However, the indictment also accuses the business owners and maintenance teams of failing to take necessary precautions.
Aftermath of the Tragedy
The plane, which lost contact on April 25, 2022, crashed into a two-story building in the Bağlarbaşı neighborhood of the Osmangazi district, causing damage to nearby homes and vehicles. The fire caused by the crash was extinguished by firefighters, but the pilots were pronounced dead at the scene. The legal process following the accident has brought allegations of non-compliance with aviation safety standards to the forefront.
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