The Turkish Presidency’s Anti-Disinformation Centre has dismissed reports that a Turkish Airlines flight aborted its landing at Benghazi’s Benina International Airport due to security concerns. The centre clarified that flight TK641, travelling from Istanbul to Benghazi on 24 December, was diverted to Milas-Bodrum Airport in southwest Turkey solely due to adverse weather conditions. According to the official statement, wind speeds at the destination exceeded operational safety limits, and there was no link to fears of “retaliatory action” following the recent fatal crash of the Libyan Chief of Staff’s aircraft near Ankara.
The clarification follows a report by the Turkish newspaper Egepostası, citing the aviation website AirportHaber, which stated that the Boeing 737-800 had already initiated landing procedures before the crew opted to turn back. The flight eventually landed in Bodrum nearly four hours after departure. Initial reports suggested confusion in operational data, with the crew allegedly informed of maintenance work on the runway. This claim sparked widespread media speculation connecting the diversion to the heightened security climate following the loss of the Libyan military delegation.
The Communications Directorate of the Turkish Presidency emphasized that flights to Libya have continued as scheduled since the incident. It described the circulated claims of security threats as “misinformation” designed to damage the strategic relationship between Turkey and Libya by exploiting a national tragedy. The official briefing maintained that the diversion was a standard professional response to safety protocols and weather conditions, rather than a reaction to any perceived political or security risk.