A maritime mishap in the Aegean Sea has resulted in serious injuries to the chairman of Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines, Ali Sabanci, and his wife, Vuslat Dogan Sabanci, during their vacation in Greece, according to a statement released on Friday by Esas Holding, the company that oversees the low-cost Turkish carrier.
The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred late on Thursday, when a speedboat transporting the couple to shore collided with rocks near the Aegean Sea island of Leros. Initial reports indicated severe injuries sustained by the couple.
Later updates from the company noted some improvement in their conditions, without offering further details on the extent of their injuries.
Following the collision, Ali Sabanci, aged 54, and Vuslat Dogan Sabanci, aged 52, were promptly evacuated to the nearby Turkish resort of Bodrum for immediate medical treatment. Ali Sabanci was subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Istanbul for further medical attention, while Vuslat Dogan Sabanci was also transferred to the same Istanbul hospital at a later time.
The boating accident involved a total of six individuals on board the speedboat during the crash. Among them were four Turkish nationals, one individual from South Africa, and another from Britain. The injured parties were admitted to a hospital in Leros, Greece, with four of them being released on the same night. A private ambulance boat facilitated the transfer of the injured Turkish man and woman to Turkey. The Greek coast guard is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Ali Sabanci hails from one of Turkey’s most affluent families and played an instrumental role in establishing Esas Holding alongside his father and sister. This business conglomerate went on to acquire Pegasus Airlines in 2005, successfully elevating it to the rank of Turkey’s second-largest airline.
