16.10.2026 17:00
In the eighth hearing of the investigation into the Filo Jet ship disaster held today in the TRNC, the VDR records included conversations indicating that the ship continued its voyages despite a rudder malfunction and that company officials were aware of technical problems. While it was determined that two days before the disaster the second captain sent an email to four company officials, it was stated that the VDR device stopped recording at 20:39 on August 28.
In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), within the scope of the investigation into the Filo Jet passenger ship, which capsized off Kyrenia on August 30, 9 detained suspects were brought before the Kyrenia Accident Court for the eighth time. In the investigation conducted under the charge of "causing death by negligence and carelessness," police investigation officer Mehmet Mannaş presented new facts to the court regarding the ship's technical condition, accidents it had experienced in the past, internal company correspondence, and VDR records.
Within the scope of the investigation, company director Ali Özdülger, captain Mustafa Öz, second captain Merve Nur Seraslan, chief engineer Zeki Öz, second engineer Metin Gül, and crew members Sertan Erol, Kadir Kuliyev, Vale Hurmatov, and Raşat İbrahimov were brought before the Kyrenia Accident Court. Mannaş stated that the investigation is ongoing, that the examination of digital and technical evidence and efforts regarding wanted persons are continuing, and requested that the 9 suspects remain in detention for another 7 days.
"VOYAGES CONTINUED AFTER RUDDER FAILURE" Police investigation officer Mehmet Mannaş stated in court that the 68 days of audio data contained in the ship's voyage data recorder are still being examined and explained that the recordings had been listened to up to August 16. Mannaş stated that in the VDR records there were conversations indicating that the ship continued its voyages after experiencing a rudder failure. Mannaş, who reported that the records included statements that the rudder was not working and needed to be replaced, noted that conversations were also detected indicating that the ship experienced a rudder failure while approaching from a distance of approximately 250-300 meters.
It was stated that one of the conversations reflected in the VDR records included the phrase, "The mechanic can repair it, but this rudder will not work unless it is replaced."
"COMPANY OFFICIALS KNEW ABOUT THE SHIP'S FAULTS" Mannaş conveyed to the court that there were conversations in the VDR records indicating that the ship's technical problems were known by company officials. It was stated that the records included statements such as, "The company official knows about the faults on the ship. He knows all the ship's faults." It was recorded that in the conversations, which also included second captain Merve Nur Seraslan, there were assessments regarding the ship's rudder and generator failures as well as accidents it had experienced in the past.
SECOND CAPTAIN SENT EMAIL BEFORE THE ACCIDENT Another noteworthy aspect of the investigation was the email sent by second captain Merve Nur Seraslan to four company officials on August 28. Police investigation officer Mannaş stated that it was determined that Seraslan sent an email to company officials two days before the disaster occurred. In the facts presented to the court, it was recorded that on that date the weather conditions were bad and that there were conversations stating that voyages should not be made in such weather conditions. Mannaş stated that during the examination of the email data, it could be seen that the message was opened, but its content could not be read. In the examination carried out by the PGM Data unit, it was stated that it was determined that the email was sent, but the content of the message could not be accessed. It was reported that digital examinations are continuing to determine what subjects were included in the email Seraslan sent to company officials.
"THE SHIP NEEDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL" It was stated that the VDR records presented to the court also contained other conversations regarding the ship's technical condition. It was conveyed that the records included the phrase, "The ship needs a complete overhaul." Mannaş noted that, in addition to conversations regarding the ship's rudder and generator systems, statements regarding exhaust insulation were also detected. It was stated that the ship's class records included assessments regarding sealing, while conversations indicating that there was water in the exhaust section were also taken under examination.
Police investigation officer Mannaş stated that conversations indicating that the generator was located in the lower part of the ship were included in the VDR records. Mannaş, who stated that it would be investigated whether the presence of water in the ship's exhaust section was normal, said that within the scope of technical examinations, information about the ship was obtained from two marine engineers and one mechanical engineer. It was reported that examinations are continuing regarding the ship's technical condition, maintenance operations, and the effect of the failures on voyage safety.
THE SHIP HIT SOMETHING IN THE PAST Mannaş conveyed to the court that there were conversations in the VDR records indicating that the ship had previously hit something. It was stated that in conversations involving the second captain, chief engineer, and second engineer, there were statements regarding accidents the ship had experienced in the past. It was recorded that another captain who had previously operated the ship had also been identified and was being sought within the scope of the investigation. It was stated that definitive information about when and where the ship hit something in the past has not yet been found, and that examinations on this matter are continuing.
Among the facts presented to the court was that the ship's voyage data recorder stopped recording two days before the disaster occurred on August 30. Mannaş stated that on August 28 at 20:39, footsteps were heard in the recordings and then the device stopped recording. In the technical report from Turkey, it was recorded that findings indicated that both power cables of the device had been disabled and the electrical current had been cut. Mannaş, who stated that the possibility that the device may have been turned off by another person was being investigated, said that no finding was encountered indicating that an outsider had entered the ship.
It was stated that information indicating that the suspects serving as crew on the ship were present was also being evaluated within the scope of the investigation.
JOINT INVESTIGATION FROM TURKEY AND TRNC While it was stated that technical examinations regarding the cutting of the VDR device's power connections are continuing, the issue that the device's condition needed to be reported by the Port Authority Directorate to the classification society also came up in court. The defense lawyer drew attention not only to the possibility that the VDR device may have shut down as a result of interference but also to the possibility that the device may have malfunctioned on its own. According to the information presented to the court, a team from Turkey and a team from the TRNC are expected to work jointly to investigate the technical condition of the device.
The work of the parliamentary committee established regarding the Filo Jet disaster was also discussed at the hearing. According to the information presented to the court, the parliamentary committee invited Turkish Lloyd officials and received information regarding the ship's technical condition. It was stated that after the committee obtains information on necessary matters, the information obtained will be shared with the police.
Mannaş told the court that the existing parts removed from the ship within the scope of the investigation had been secured. It was stated that the parts were kept under the supervision of the relevant units at Lapta-Çamlıbel and Liman Police Station. It was noted that examinations regarding the ship's past damage, repairs, and technical condition are ongoing.
7 PEOPLE WANTED It was reported that 2 more people were added to the 5 people previously sought as part of the investigation, bringing the number of wanted individuals to 7. It was noted that one of the wanted individuals was a captain who was stated to have previously operated the ship and had an accident in Yumurtalık, while the other was an engineer assessed to have been aware of the technical faults on the ship. It was stated that the investigation is continuing into the ship's past accidents, technical faults, and who was aware of these faults.
Police investigation officer Mehmet Mannaş told the court that the bodies of 27 of the 28 people who went missing after the disaster had been recovered, and that the last missing person was Anni Asel Hilaloğlu. It was stated that examinations were carried out in the areas where the Optimus Prime ship, which participated in the search efforts, operated, and that searches were conducted up to a distance of approximately 100 nautical miles. It was reported that Coast Guard teams are continuing their search efforts at sea to find the last missing person.
WHAT HAPPENED? On August 30, 2026, the catamaran named Filo Jet, which was making a voyage from Kyrenia to Mersin, capsized and sank off Kyrenia. There were a total of 267 people on board, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members. After the disaster, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched by the relevant institutions of Turkey and the TRNC. On the first day, 237 people were rescued alive, the bodies of 7 people were recovered, and 23 people were recorded as missing. In the efforts, which also included the TCG IŞIN and TCG ALEMDAR ships affiliated with the Naval Forces Command, examinations were carried out with remotely operated underwater vehicles on the wreck located at a depth of approximately 550 meters. Later, the Optimus Prime ship belonging to the company Derinsu Underwater Engineering also joined the search efforts.
In the investigation launched regarding the disaster, the ship's technical condition, past damage, maintenance and repair operations, and claims regarding voyage safety were taken under examination, and 9 suspects linked to the incident were arrested.
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