11.10.2026 10:10
In Hatay, welding master Ali Nail Gündoğan, who set out to sea in a boat with his friend to fish on December 31, 2020, and then disappeared, has not been heard from for about 6 years. No trace of Gündoğan could be found in search efforts lasting months. His father, Cumali Gündoğan, called on the Ministry of Justice to find his son and shed light on the incident. Father Gündoğan requested that the file be re-examined and the records of the 2 cell phones with his son be investigated.
The fate of 23-year-old Ali Nail Gündoğan, who went missing after setting out to sea by boat in Samandağ, has been unknown for nearly 6 years. Cumali Gündoğan, who is fighting to learn his son's fate, asked the authorities for help.
HIS FRIEND WAS FOUND ON THE ROCKS, HE HIMSELF DISAPPEARED
Ali Nail Gündoğan, a welder living in the Defne district, went to the Samandağ district on 31 December 2020 and set out to sea by boat together with his friend S.T. to fish. Gündoğan, who was 23 at the time, disappeared at sea along with his boat.
In the large-scale search launched in the area, S.T. was found on rocks 73 meters from the shore. S.T. recounted that the boat was blown around in the wind, that he fell into the sea and climbed onto the rocks, while Gündoğan disappeared from sight along with the boat.
SEARCHES LASTING FOR MONTHS PRODUCED NO RESULT
No result was obtained from the search efforts that Coast Guard teams carried out for months in the area extending from the Syrian border to the open waters off Antalya. No trace of Gündoğan was found.
“NO TRACE OF MY SON COULD BE FOUND”
Father Cumali Gündoğan said that Coast Guard teams searched for about 10 days and AFAD teams for 2 months, but no result was obtained. Stating that the searches were continued in a wide area from Syria to Alanya and Muğla, Gündoğan expressed that no trace of his son could be found. Gündoğan noted that his son's waterproof backpack, the boat and the flashlight on his head were also not found.
“I AM EXHAUSTED FINANCIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY”
Gündoğan, who stated that despite nearly 6 years having passed he could not learn his son's fate, recounted that he was exhausted financially and spiritually during this process. He said that as he saw search efforts in other missing person cases concluded, he experienced the pain of not receiving news from his son more deeply.
“I WANT THE FILE TO BE RE-EXAMINED”
Gündoğan, stating that he had a file of about 70 pages regarding his son and the evidence he submitted, stressed that he applied to various prosecutor's offices and institutions but could not obtain a result. Gündoğan, who stated that he also made an application through CİMER, requested that the records of the 2 mobile phones that were with his son on the night he disappeared be examined in detail. Gündoğan said that it was necessary to investigate, through the phones, where his son had been and with whom he had communicated.
“MY ONLY WISH IS TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON”
Cumali Gündoğan, who stated that he had been fighting for nearly 6 years to learn his son's fate, spoke as follows:
“I call out to our Ministry of Justice. For nearly 6 years I have been waiting for news from my child. I have a file of about 70 pages. Despite submitting all the evidence, I could not reach a conclusion. My request from you is that the file be re-examined and the incident be clarified. If there are those responsible, let them be revealed. My only wish is to learn what happened to my son.”