Health Ministry Awaits Turkish Court Ruling on Filo Jet Victim’s Identity

The Health Ministry issued a statement in response to media reports concerning doubts over the identity of one of those who died in the Filo Jet disaster on August 30. It said the concerns expressed by the family were also important to the ministry and that the matter had been referred to the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia.

The ministry stated that it had played an active role in the response following the disaster, and that DNA samples had been taken at the Forensic Medicine Department from all bodies recovered from the sea at different times, under the supervision of specialist doctors.

The statement said DNA samples collected from the bodies had been compared with samples provided by family members in cooperation with the Turkish Forensic Medicine Institute. The bodies for which DNA matches had been established were handed over to their families following the preparation of the legally required records.

It also noted that some of the bodies had been recovered from the sea approximately 30 days after the accident, with their physical integrity partially compromised. The identification procedures, it stressed, had been completed on the basis of DNA tests and matching results.

The ministry said it took seriously the family’s doubts about the identity of one of the bodies mentioned in the media. The family had reportedly raised the issue with a forensic medicine specialist approximately two weeks ago. The ministry subsequently requested detailed information from the specialist and immediately referred the matter to the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia.

As the body in question was buried in Turkey, the ministry said the Turkish judicial system needed to become involved and that it was awaiting the decisions of the courts there. It added that it was prepared to provide any information and documentation requested by the Turkish courts.

Stressing that clarifying the doubts was also important to the ministry, the statement said it would continue contributing to efforts to ensure that both the family and the public were accurately informed.

The ministry underlined its determination to take the necessary administrative steps depending on the outcome of the process. It also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.