A former Air Force officer accused of directing aircraft from Akıncı Air Base during Turkey’s July 15, 2016 coup attempt told a court that the officer responsible for the base’s air traffic operations said he was working under instructions from a contact at the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
Former Staff Lt. Col. Hakan Karakuş said Lt. Col. Nihat Altıntop told him during the night that he had expected the military activity, had coordinated with others in advance and was acting on instructions from a friend at MİT.
Karakuş said Altıntop warned that an operation would begin toward morning and that “many will die.”
The testimony raises questions about why Altıntop, who was responsible for aircraft taking off from and landing at Akıncı, was treated as a complainant and witness rather than investigated as a suspect.
Prosecutors described Akıncı as the command center of the coup attempt and accused Karakuş, then commander of the 141st Squadron, of directing aircraft from the control tower.
Karakuş denied the accusation and said responsibility for air traffic belonged to Altıntop and the tower personnel.
He also withdrew statements he had previously given to police and prosecutors, saying they had been obtained under torture.
Karakuş said officers pressured him to accuse his father-in-law, former Air Force Commander Gen. Akın Öztürk, of planning the coup attempt with civilians and leading its military wing.
He said he was tortured after refusing.
“My father-in-law cannot have any connection to the coup attempt,” Karakuş told the court.
FAMILY TARGETED AFTER HIS ARREST
Karakuş said the campaign against him extended to his family.
His mother’s survivor pension was stopped five days after the coup attempt, while his brother was dismissed, detained and held for 70 days, he said.
Unknown people cut down his family’s apricot trees in Malatya and attacked the house where his mother lived.
Karakuş said the family’s home in military housing was ransacked during a search and household items ranging from a pressure cooker to a refrigerator were seized.
He said his son could not begin primary school because the family feared for his safety.
“I DID NOT ORDER THE JETS TO TAKE OFF”
Karakuş said Altıntop, Özcan Murat Doğan, Hakan Bölükbaş, Mustafa Elez and four noncommissioned air traffic officers were in the tower when he arrived.
He said the first aircraft returned to Akıncı much earlier than expected.
Because counterterrorism missions normally lasted about four hours, Karakuş initially believed the operation had been canceled.
Tension increased after those in the tower saw reports that soldiers had closed bridges in İstanbul and that aircraft were flying over Ankara.
Karakuş said Altıntop and his personnel then began directing telephone and radio calls to him, telling callers that Karakuş was responsible for the tower.
He objected, saying that monitoring air traffic and issuing instructions were not among his duties.
Karakuş said he argued with Altıntop after realizing that he was being placed at the center of communications while others avoided responsibility.
ALTINTOP ALLEGEDLY DISCLOSED MİT COORDINATION
At around 3:30 a.m., Altıntop asked Karakuş to step onto the balcony for a private conversation, according to the testimony.
“He told me that he expected such an activity, that he had coordinated with others beforehand, that the person he was in contact with from MİT was his friend and that he was acting on his instructions,” Karakuş said.
Karakuş said Altıntop told him an operation would be conducted toward morning, that everyone would be punished and that “the end had come” for some people.
“He said it would be good for me to act together with him,” Karakuş said.
Karakuş said this was the first time he heard the word “coup” that night.
He asked Altıntop what he should do.
“Do not get involved in the events. Let them take their course. Continue to stay in the tower, but do not tell anyone,” Altıntop reportedly replied. “My personnel know about the events. Many will die by morning.”
Karakuş said he then realized that his lack of knowledge had been used against him.
He described Altıntop as the officer responsible for all aircraft and helicopters taking off from and landing at Akıncı.
CONTACT WITH FORMER MİT DEPARTMENT HEAD
Karakuş identified Altıntop’s intelligence contact by the initials K.G., saying the man had previously served as a department head at MİT.
Altıntop said in his own statement that he called K.G. at around 10:30 p.m. and reported the developments at the base.
During another call at 11:10 p.m., Altıntop reportedly told him, “A coup is taking place. Helicopters are bringing VIP guests.”
Karakuş questioned how Altıntop had enough information to identify the events as a coup while claiming that others in the tower were unaware of what was happening.
He also accused Altıntop of allowing flight operations to continue rather than attempting to stop aircraft from taking off.
“While I knew absolutely nothing about the events, Nihat Altıntop understood them well enough to prepare a press statement,” Karakuş said. “How did he know all this?”
Karakuş said Altıntop reassured his personnel by telling them, “Do not worry. Nothing will happen to you. I am a witness.”
He asked the court to summon Altıntop, saying he could confirm that Karakuş had not participated in the coup attempt.
Karakuş also questioned why Altıntop had not accused him in his initial statement but placed responsibility on him in a later account.
Despite his admitted communication with MİT and his responsibility for air traffic at the base, Altıntop was not prosecuted in the Akıncı case.
His account instead became part of the prosecution’s evidence against officers including Karakuş.
Karakuş concluded his defense by denying links to the Gülen movement and asking the court for a fair trial.
