After the recent Air India Boeing 787-8 plane crash near Ahmedabad, there has been a lot of talk and speculation. Some people, including yoga guru Baba Ramdev, claimed that a Turkish company was responsible for the aircraft’s maintenance and that this could be linked to the crash.
However, the Turkish government has firmly denied these claims. In an official statement, they said that Turkish Technic, the company in question, has never done maintenance work on Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Their contracts with Air India only involve a different type of aircraft – the Boeing 777, not the one that crashed.
Read more: Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad: What the Government Shared in First Press Conference?
Turkey also said that such claims are false and misleading, and seem to be an attempt to create confusion and damage India-Turkey relations. While Turkish officials know which company last serviced the aircraft, they chose not to reveal the name to avoid more rumors.
The statement further said that Turkey’s Centre for Countering Disinformation will continue to watch for any false claims targeting Turkish companies.
Baba Ramdev’s Foreign Conspiracy Claim
Baba Ramdev added to the controversy by suggesting, without proof, that a foreign conspiracy might be behind the crash. He urged the Indian government to be cautious about letting foreign companies handle sensitive sectors like aviation.
Read more: “Still hoping…” Waiting for bodies deepens pain of families after Air India crash
India Ends Ties with Turkish Airport Firm
This is not the first issue between India and Turkish companies. Recently, Adani Airport Holdings ended contracts with a Turkish firm, Celebi NAS, for ground-handling services in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This decision came after the Indian government cancelled Celebi’s security clearance due to national security concerns.
Air India Changes Maintenance Plans
Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, said that the airline will now send fewer aircraft to Turkey for maintenance. Due to limited maintenance options in India, some planes will still be sent abroad, but mostly to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the US.
Despite the controversy, the Turkish government expressed sympathy for the Indian people and offered their condolences after the tragic crash.
