There is currently a stir at Turkish Airlines that the carrier is sending pilots who do not have Turkish citizenship on unpaid forced leave for six months. According to a report by the Aero.de portal, the “majority of foreign pilots” are affected.

An affected pilot is quoted who explains that seniority lists were not taken into account and that the measure, which is supposed to be based on a passage in Turkish labor law, should only affect pilots with non-Turkish citizenship. Turkish Airlines wanted the circular that the Reporting by Aero.de based, do not comment.