As Türkiye grieves the loss of 20 soldiers martyred in the military plane crash in Georgia, a social media post by the Hellenic Air Force has triggered diplomatic tension between the two countries.
The Hellenic Air Force shared images of C130 cargo aircraft on its official account on the US-based platform X under the title “Photos of the Day.” The post coincided with Türkiye’s national mourning following the crash, drawing strong reactions. Due to intense criticism, the images were removed within minutes.
The Post Was Shared 48 Hours After the Death of Our Martyrs
The post, shared only 48 hours after the crash of the Turkish Air Force’s C130 military cargo aircraft on the Georgia–Azerbaijan border on 11 November, which resulted in the martyrdom of 20 soldiers, caused widespread reaction on social media. Many users described the post as “immoral” and “contrary to good neighbourly relations.”
Greece Deleted the Post and Published a Condolence Message
Following the backlash, the post was swiftly removed, and a condolence message signed by Hellenic Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis was issued to Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu. The message stated:
“We have received this terrible news with great sorrow. Words fall short in describing this tragedy. We stand by you in this difficult time. Please accept our deepest condolences on behalf of the Hellenic Air Force and myself.”
Sources from the Greek Ministry of Defence argued that the post had no connection to the crash, claiming it was shared because a photo taken during the institution’s own ceremony was “liked,” and later removed to avoid the risk of misunderstanding.
A Verbal Note from Türkiye to Athens
Following the controversial post, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a verbal note to Greece, conveying Türkiye’s official discomfort with the situation.
Strong Reaction from the AK Party
AK Party Deputy Chairman Faruk Acar also issued a harsh statement on X, saying:
“Know your limits. Otherwise, we will inform you. You know this very well.”
