Turkish Navy ATR mission into Athens FIR

A new mission into Athens FIR for a Turkish Navy aircraft.

Around 12:45 CEST a Turkish Navy aircraft, an ATR C-72MPA (callsign MARTI18, reg. TCB-751) left Dalaman southbound. After few minutes the aircraft entered into Athens FIR (flight information region) north east of the Island of Rhodes.

The plane continued its flight over the southern Aegean and then veered north. For nearly three hours the aircraft flew from south to north over the Aegean Sea (FL1250, however, avoiding entering the Greek air space).

These types of missions, referred to by Athens as provocations, are usually carried out without the authorization of the Greek air controllers.