Sonali Tiwary
On August 30, a passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized shortly after departing the port of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus, bound for Taşucu on Turkey’s southern coast. By September 3, nine people had died, 19 remained missing and 239 had been rescued, with the search operation ongoing.
The Filo Jet was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it went down. Search and rescue teams worked in difficult conditions following the capsize. A suspected wreck was located at approximately 550 meters depth — deep enough to make physical recovery extremely challenging. Turkey deployed the TCG Işın search-and-rescue vessel, and TCG Alemdar was also brought in to support the underwater operation.
On August 31, nine people were detained in connection with the disaster, including the vessel’s captain and crew members, along with a company representative from Filo Denizcilik. They face allegations of causing deaths through carelessness and negligence.
The legal proceedings introduced several important facts that cut in different directions. Police told the court that the vessel had Türk Loydu approval and the relevant port permissions, and that authorities had confirmed sufficient life jackets and lifeboats were carried.
At the same time, the court hearing included allegations that water had entered the vessel before or during the voyage, and that warnings had been given prior to the accident. Those remain investigative allegations, not established findings.
One detail that surfaced during the hearing: the Filo Jet had previously suffered damage in Turkey and was acquired by Filo Denizcilik in 2024. That context was introduced at the court proceedings, which is where the attribution belongs — it’s part of what investigators are examining, not a confirmed contributing factor.
The investigation is active. What can be said with certainty is that 267 people boarded a ferry that capsized, nine have died, and 19 remain unaccounted for. The investigation into the cause of the sinking and possible negligence remains ongoing.
