Turkey seizes jet from Iran's Caspian Airlines over unpaid debt

Turkish authorities have seized a plane belonging to Iran's Caspian Airlines at Istanbul Airport, an official said Tuesday, with Turkish and Iranian media linking it to an unpaid three-million-euros($3.4 million) debt.

People walk along Istiklal Avenue, decorated with Turkish national flags after Sunday's blast killed six and wounded dozens, in Istanbul, Turkey, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The seizure took place on Monday after passengers had boarded the Boeing 737, which was waiting to take off when officials detained it on the basis of a court-issued seizure order, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu said.

The reports did not mention the recently imposed US sanctions against Iranian airlines as Washington seeks to economically isolate the Islamic Republic.

In a written response to AFP, a Turkish government official confirmed the move, saying it was linked to "a commercial dispute" but did not give further details.

Source: Citizen Digital