Nicosia, Cyprus. Three Turkish F-16 fighter jets took off from the north’s Ercan (Tymbou) airport on Tuesday afternoon, with jet engine noise reported across parts of Nicosia. The departures coincided with a brief holding pattern for an incoming passenger flight.
Take-off and reports from Nicosia
The sound of the jets’ engines firing up was audible across most of eastern Nicosia, while people in northern Nicosia’s industrial zone between Kioneli and Mandres also reported hearing jets flying overhead.
Sources close to the matter told the Cyprus Mail the jets took off “for their own operations,” but could not confirm whether the departure was for a training exercise or part of a more permanent repositioning.
Impact on civilian flight operations
Following the jets’ take-off, an incoming Pegasus Airlines passenger flight from Ankara remained in a holding pattern over the sea east of Trikomo for around 20 minutes.
Notam and military presence at Ercan
Turkey issued a notice to airmen (Notam) last week for possible military activities in the airspace above and surrounding Ercan (Tymbou) airport. The north’s ‘transport minister’ Erhan Arikli said at the time that if the Notam becomes active, there is a possibility of delays in departures from Ercan airport.
A total of six F-16s have been stationed at Ercan (Tymbou) for the last two weeks, and they have been joined by Hisar-A surface-to-air missiles.
Sequence of Notams and reported missile fire
Turkey’s Notam followed a series of Notams and counter-Notams after the Republic of Cyprus initially issued a Notam regarding possible operations carried out by the US military off the coast of the Karpas peninsula.
Turkish Cypriot authorities then issued a Notam of their own, and Turkey declared the original Notam “null and void,” before issuing a third Notam regarding Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
It is believed the original Notam was related to a video appearing to show missile fire, reportedly taken in the Karpas peninsula village of Platanissos, which circulated on social media on Saturday. The Turkish government said the firing took place in international waters between Cyprus and Turkey.
What impact do you think military Notams should have on nearby civilian flight operations?
