An Iranian airliner was seized at Istanbul Airport under a Turkish court order over a debt claim, Turkish media outlets report, as Iran's aviation sector, already in a precarious condition, struggles under new US sanctions.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 registered EP-KPB, belongs to Caspian Airlines. According to Turkish reports, ACM Temsil Gözetim, an aviation representation and supervision company, launched legal proceedings over a debt of about €3 million it says the Iranian carrier owes, and enforcement officers acted on a court ruling issued following its application.
Officers served the order when the aircraft was in the final stages of preparation for takeoff to Iran. Passengers, who had already boarded, were removed from the plane along with the cabin crew and returned to the terminal. The legal dispute between the two companies is ongoing.
The seizure comes weeks after the US Treasury sanctioned all Iranian airlines on September 8, adding 27 Iranian carriers to its enhanced sanctions list and withdrawing exemptions that had allowed Iranian aircraft to be refueled and maintained. Despite the sanctions, several Iranian airlines, including Caspian, have continued operating flights to Istanbul.
