Oman airlifts nationals from Istanbul following Turkey coup attempt

Oman is sending aircrafts from its Air Force to transport nationals who are currently “trapped” in Turkey following the recent coup attempt in Istanbul, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

An official source at the Foreign Ministry told ONA that the first aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman reached Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport on Monday.

More flights are expected to follow as about 500 Omanis said that they “desired to return”, the report said.

The source urged Omani citizens in Turkey to contact and coordinate with the Sultanate’s embassy in Ankara and its consulate in Istanbul and to abide by the Turkish laws and regulations.

The embassy and consulate will help them return home, the report added.

Turkey is currently in turmoil, with the government detaining or suspending nearly 20,000 members of the police, civil service, judiciary and army since Friday night’s failed coup attempt.

The violence that followed the coup left more than 200 people dead.

Also read: Turkish PM: Coup plotters will ‘pay heavy price’