18.07.2026 21:10
The testimony of retired pilot colonel Ali Armağan, who was arrested in the investigation of the helicopter crash that killed Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu and 5 others, has been obtained. Armağan answered questions about F-4 flights and FETÖ connections. Armağan denied allegations that he flew with F-16 pilots in the skies of Kahramanmaraş.
Statements of retired colonel Ali Armağan and his wife, who were arrested in the investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Great Unity Party (BBP) Founding Chairman Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu and five others, have been obtained by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
According to information from judicial sources, retired colonel Armağan was asked about F-4 fighter jets that took off from Malatya Erhaç Airport at the time of the crash of the helicopter carrying Yazıcıoğlu and his companions on March 25, 2009.
The investigative authorities showed records indicating that on the day of the incident, Ali Armağan and Ahmet Turhan were on a flight with call sign "D721" and track number "HH721" between 14:26-15:41, while Ali Armağan and Nihat Biçer were on a flight with call sign "D720" and track number "HH720" between 10:30-12:12, and posed questions accordingly.
"I WAS ON AN INTERCEPTION FLIGHT OVER SIVAS WHEN THE HELICOPTER CRASHED"
Claiming he did not fly with F-16 pilots over Kahramanmaraş skies, Armağan alleged he was on an interception mission over Sivas during the helicopter crash and that the information sent by the Turkish General Staff was incorrect.
When asked whether he conducted a TAKSAN flight with F-16 pilots Sedat Kılıçaslan and Tezcan Kaymaz over Kahramanmaraş, Armağan defended himself by saying, "The flight I conducted was a rear service flight. I did not participate in a TAKSAN flight."
Regarding the F-4 aircraft disappearing from radar at certain moments, Armağan stated, "The reason for the F-4 disappearing from radar for 4 minutes during the flight shown to me is that it was flying at a low altitude undetectable by radar. Whether the radar can detect an aircraft varies depending on the terrain structure. If the flight area is mountainous, the radar cannot image it."
HE DENIED ALLEGATIONS RELATED TO ADİL ÖKSÜZ AND KEMAL BATMAZ
When asked whether the operational line ending with "...05 50", which had 152 contact records between February 21, 2012, and February 10, 2014, via a phone line used by fugitive FETÖ's alleged TSK imam Adil Öksüz, belonged to him, Armağan claimed, "The line does not belong to me. I do not remember who used it or whether it was used."
In response to the question, "Do you know Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz?", Armağan stated the following:
"I know Kemal Batmaz from the allegations in a case I was previously tried for and from news in the media after the July 15 process. Otherwise, I have no connection with Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz, who are among FETÖ's clandestine imams. The reason for these allegations against me is that my phone and my wife's phone were transmitting from the same base station."
When questioned about her fingerprint being found on a book signed by organization leader Fetullah Gülen, seized in Öksüz's house in Sakarya, suspect Şerife Armağan replied, "I do not know what the person does. There is no contact between us."
Armağan was also questioned about some notes, names, phone numbers, and IBAN information seized during a search of his residence.
Stating that these notes did not belong to him and he did not know the names and numbers written on them, Armağan noted that the document titled "Officers who passed the 2004 Air War Academy entrance exam" belonged to his wife.