No missing aircraft besides seized copter: Defense min.

By Sarp Ozer

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey has no aircraft missing besides the helicopter seized by eight pro-coup soldiers who flew to Greece in the wake of the failed coup attempt, Turkey’s defense minister said Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Defense Minister Fikri Isik dismissed rumors that five or six Turkish aircraft had disappeared after the attempted coup as “untrue.”

Late Saturday, a diplomatic source said the Black Hawk helicopter used in the escape had been returned to Turkey.

It was received by the Turkish military and left Alexandroupoli, Greece at 11.30 p.m. local time (2030GMT) accompanied by two other Turkish helicopters, the source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

* Ilker Girit contributed to this story from Istanbul.