Thread by @BehzadFatmi

I am shocked to learn of İlker Aycı's appointment as @airindiain's new CEO. He is a controversial figure from an unfriendly country - Turkey. A thread on him 👇

#AirIndia #TATA

He is known for his closeness to the Turkish dictator @RTErdogan's son, Bilal Erdoğan. Since becoming the board chairman of @TurkishAirlines in 2015, he filled it with graduates from Kartal İmam Hatip High School, an Islamic school in Istanbul which Bilal also attended.

Although he went to the prestigious Bilkent University, Ankara and Marmara University, Istanbul, he has no qualification in aviation at all. He was brought to the @TurkishAirlines because of his proximity to the Erdoğan family.

İlker Aycı being the top boss at India's national carrier, @airindiain means he using his position to advance the Erdoğan family's interests in India. As mentioned above, through him Bilal Erdoğan appointed AKP loyalists in the @TurkishAirlines.

Turkish Airlines dominated by schoolmates of Erdoğan’s son - newspaper

ahvalnews.com/turkish-airlin…

İlker Aycı held 17 positions and drew handsome salaries from all while being at the helm of affairs at the @TurkishAirlines.

boldmedya.com/2021/04/20/thy…

In January this year, İlker Aycı was in Kazakhstan with his wife Tuğçe Aycı when the unrest started. He frantically boarded a @TurkishAirlines cargo plane and flew out of the country leaving behind dozens of the airlines' personnel, including some pilots.
onedio.com/haber/thy-bask…

With his presence in India, the Turkish ambassador to New Delhi’s role will significantly
diminish. Aycı will be the one pulling strings at the Turkish diplomatic missions here.

@sidhant @NayanimaBasu @Geeta_Mohan @ShubhajitRoy

#AirIndia #TATA