The Cessna T206 type plane, driven by businessman Mehmet Çankaya, disappeared after the radio connection was lost at 09.23 in the morning local time on September 13. Türkiye's Embassy in Bogota stated that they closely monitored the search and rescue efforts from the first moment the accident occurred and that they were in contact with local authorities to reach Mehmet Çankaya and other passengers on the plane.
Since it was not possible to reach the accident site by land, it was planned to land the rescue teams by helicopters, but due to the steep and rugged terrain, it was not possible to airlift the teams directly to the accident site. Rescue teams were brought down by helicopters to a point close to the accident site. After walking in difficult terrain conditions, the teams managed to reach the wreckage by land three days after the accident.
PARTS OF THE PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE WERE SCATTERED IN A LARGE AREA
It was reported that the pieces of the plane that crashed into the mountainside were scattered over a wide area. It was noted that search and rescue efforts were continuing with difficulty due to the steep and steep slopes of the region.
Colombian Civil Aviation Authority and rescue teams determined that the plane crashed in the mountainous area at an altitude of approximately 9 thousand feet, within the borders of the Pueblo Rico municipality in the Risaralda region. It was reported that the emergency radio transmitter (ELT) was activated in the region after the plane disappeared. While search and rescue efforts were supported by air elements, it was stated that the region was one of the most difficult to reach geographies in Colombia.
Colombian authorities did not share information about the condition of the victims and the wreckage of the plane.
THERE WERE 5 PEOPLE ON THE PLANE
It was stated that the plane took off from Mandinga Airport in Condoto in the Choco region to go to Guaymaral Airport in Bogota. It was noted that in addition to Çankaya, there were 4 Colombian passengers on the plane.
"The search for the aircraft was conducted over the village of Oscordó, Pueblo Rico in Risaralda. At approximately 07:30, our UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter spotted traces of the aircraft near Tatamá National Natural Park," the Air Force said in a press release on Monday. According to images released by the Air Force, parts thought to belong to the plane were found in a mountainous and forested area of Pueblo Rico. However, it has not yet been fully confirmed whether the pieces belong to the missing plane.
ÇANKAYA'S WIFE CALLED TO THE AUTHORITIES: 'DO NOT STOP THE SEARCH'
Speaking to Noticias Caracol En Vivo, Mehmet Çankaya's wife, Adriana Revelo, asked the authorities not to end the search for the plane. Revelo stated that they learned that searches and air flights in the area where the plane was thought to be were suspended due to weather conditions.
Emphasizing that the families' anxious wait continues, Revelo said, "This morning, we met with the families of the four passengers. We learned that two private helicopters belonging to the Colombian Air Force were searching the region by examining the weather conditions, location and geography. They assigned personnel to search for more parts of the plane and check the condition of the passengers. But to be honest, the situation is unclear as of now; we still do not know whether the passengers are alive or not."
Calling on the Colombian Air Force, the police and President Abelardo de la Espriella not to stop the search efforts, Revelo said, "This is a humanitarian issue; it is about people who provide vital medical and social services. There has been no accident on that hill for many years. This is the clearest indication that the parts found belong to my husband's plane."
HIS CHILDREN LEARNED ABOUT THE ACCIDENT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Mehmet Çankaya's wife said that they are currently waiting to learn the situation of the other passengers on the plane. Revelo also noted that he and his wife have three daughters, ages 18, 9, and 7, and that none of them, except their eldest daughter, knew their father was missing.
Revelo said, "It is a very emotionally complex situation. Every family is mourning because it was a humanitarian mission and everyone on that plane has a story. I can only talk about my own story. Mehmet was a father, the head of the house. We had been married for 10 years; we were going to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary last December. My eldest daughter learned about the accident on social media. The children thought their father was on a trip."
'HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVEL'
Touching on her last conversation with her husband Çankaya, Revelo said, "We had a protocol. When he was going to go on a flight, we would be very respectful to each other, so we would not make phone calls. He did not use a mobile phone or similar things to concentrate on the flight. Our last conversation was before taking off from Guaymaral to Condoto; he would always send me a selfie on the plane, and he sent it then too. He sent me a selfie; he looked very calm. We talked, he probably fell in love with a stray dog that he wanted to adopt. "We talked about it on Sunday; he described it to me, showed me some videos he had taken on Friday, and sent me a photo of the dog. I sent him a little heart emoji and said, 'Happy and safe travels'. That was the last communication between us."
