Turkey's main opposition CHP calls for investigation into 2007 plane crash in Isparta

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called for a parliamentary investigation into a plane crash that killed 57 people on board in 2007 in Isparta -- including six scientists who were working on a nuclear energy project. “This big project had the potential to make Turkey an energy giant in the near future, as the county has rich thorium reserves,” the CHP's motion said.

Duvar English

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has submitted a parliamentary motion demanding an investigation into a plane crash in southwest Turkey in 2017, ANKA news agency reported on Sept. 3.

An Atlasjet plane crashed on a rocky mountain shortly before it was due to land in Isparta on Nov. 30, 2017, killing all 57 people on board. The lawsuit into the crash was launched in December 2009 at the Isparta 1st Heavy Penal Court.

The CHP's motion said that the lawsuit could not be finalized and the statue of limitation expired on Nov. 30, 2019, as a result of which the court has no longer has jurisdiction.

The CHP recalled that among those on board the crashed plane were six nuclear physicists working on a project called the Turkish Accelerator Center Project.

“This big project had the potential to make Turkey an energy giant in the near future, as the county has rich thorium reserves,” the CHP's motion said.

After the crash, allegations that the plane might have been sabotaged came to the foreground as six academics were onboard the plane.

The six scientists were employed at different universities across Turkey and had decisive roles in the Turkish Accelerator Center Project.