Coup ends in Turkey as Istanbul airport resumes flights; over 100 stranded Taiwanese to return home

▲ Istanbul Atatürk Airport has resumed flight operations. (Photo / Da-Zhi Images / AP)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

A military coup attempt in Turkey occurred on the evening of the 15th local time but ultimately failed. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Istanbul Atatürk Airport has now resumed flight operations.

The Tourism Bureau stated that there are currently 33 tour groups in Istanbul, Turkey, with a total of 743 travelers. Among them, five groups totaling 101 people who were originally stranded at Istanbul Airport have boarded their flights and are expected to return to Taiwan on a Turkish Airlines flight departing at 12:50 local time. Other tour groups have either continued their itineraries after obtaining consent from travelers through their travel agencies, or have been accommodated in hotels awaiting return flights back to Taiwan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs had earlier raised the travel alert level for Turkey to red due to the coup. Although the coup has ended, travelers are still advised not to visit the area for the time being.