5 fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Shot Down by Syrian MiG-21 Near Turkey-Syria Border (TC-KUN)

Antakya, TurkeyFlight

On October 20, 1989, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration TC-KUN) operated by Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlügü was involved in an aviation accident near Antakya, Turkey in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by the pilot of a Syrian Air Force MiG-21 fighter. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft on a forest mapping mission was shot down by a Syrian MiG-21 fighter over Turkish territory near the Syria border, crashing near Antakya and killing all five occupants.

Incident Overview

A twin-engine aircraft conducting a special mission over Hatay province was shot down by a Syrian Air Force MiG-21 fighter pilot while cruising approximately 20 kilometers from the Turkey-Syria border. The aircraft had departed from Adana for a mapping operation of a forest area along the border.

Flight Details

The aircraft was engaged in a mapping mission over Turkish territory when it was intercepted and shot down by the MiG-21. After being hit, the aircraft lost control, entered a dive, and crashed near Antakya.

Casualties

All five occupants on board were killed in the crash.

Probable cause

Shot down by the pilot of a Syrian Air Force MiG-21 fighter.