Türkiye and TRNC Enhance Search and Rescue Capabilities in Martyr Ensign Caner Gönyeli-2024 Exercise
Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) completed the two-day The Martyr Ensign Caner Gönyeli-2024 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise in Northern Cyprus. The exercise took place in two phases, Land and Sea, in the Girne (Kyrenia/St. Hilarion) region and outside the territorial waters of the TRNC in the Turkish Search and Rescue Region, off the coast of Gazimağusa (Famagusta) with the participation of civilian and military elements from the Search and Rescue Organizations of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) between June 10-14, 2024. The goal of the exercise is to test the mutual coordination and functionality of the Search and Rescue Organizations of the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC through scenarios that could also occur in real situations. It also aims to improve the capabilities to conduct joint search and rescue operations within a comprehensive scenario with broad participation, as well as to identify and address any potential shortcomings.
The exercise included participation from the Turkish Land Forces Command, Turkish Naval Forces Command, Turkish Air Force Command, Turkish Coast Guard Command, TRNC elements, civilian institutions and organizations, as well as observers from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, and Mauritania. Additionally, 10 Coordination Centers from the Republic of Türkiye and 4 from the TRNC took part in the exercise. In the first phase of the exercise, conducted in the Girne (St. Hilarion) region on June 11, search and rescue operations were carried out according to the exercise scenario following the loss of contact with a passenger aircraft flying in the Türkiye-TRNC route over the Beşparmak Mountains within the TRNC airspace.
In the scenario carried out in the Girne (St. Hilarion) region, following the transmission of a distress signal (ELT/PLB) by a passenger plane flying on the İzmir-Ercan route within the TRNC airspace, the ELT/PLB (Emergency Locator Transmitter/Personal Locator Beacon) distress signal was received by the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center (AAKKM) through SARSAT (Search & Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking). Subsequently, upon notification to the Ercan Air Search and Rescue Coordination Center (HVAKKM), the TRNC Search and Rescue Organization was activated. A Search and Rescue Helicopter and an Ambulance Helicopter were dispatched to the area with suitable Search and Rescue Units (AKBİR) and sufficient medical personnel to commence search and rescue operations. Support was also requested from the Republic of Türkiye's Search and Rescue Organization for the SAR activity.
Upon request, the Search and Rescue Organization of the Republic of Türkiye was activated and dispatched 2x Search and Rescue Aircraft, 1x Search and Rescue Helicopter, 1x Bayraktar TB2 UAV, and 1x Search and Rescue team to the scene to support the Search and Rescue operation.
After the SAR Aircraft and Helicopters located the crashed plane, Search and Rescue Qualified Personnel (AKİP) were dropped at the incident area, and the casualties were evacuated t by TRNC Security Forces Command and Turkish Coast Guard helicopters following their initial treatment.
Subsequently, SAR Elements arrived at the crash site, and in coordination with the SAR activities, the perimeter security of the crash site was established, and unauthorized individuals attempting to enter the crash site were removed. After firefighting units extinguished the aircraft fire, SAR elements carried out rescue and evacuation activities within the aircraft, and medical teams performed emergency treatments for the identified casualties. Afterward, the other rescued passengers were transported to the hospital by ambulances.
After the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) identified a wounded person on the edge of a cliff northwest of the downed plane, the Civil Defense team rescued the casualty using a rope and pulley system, and the casualty was then evacuated by ambulance. Another casualty detected in a forested area by a drone was rescued and evacuated from the area by helicopter. The successful completion of the Land Phase of the Martyr Ensign Caner Gönyeli-2024 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise was observed by the President of the TRNC Ersin TATAR, 2nd President of TRNC Mehmet Ali TALAT, TRNC Foreign Minister Tahsin ERTUĞRULOĞLU, Türkiye's Ambassador to Lefkoşa (Nicosia) Metin FEYZİOĞLU, and Security Forces Commander Major General Osman AYTAÇ, along with military officials.
During the second phase of the exercise conducted off the coast of Famagusta on June 12, 2024, a collision was simulated outside of the TRNC territorial waters and within the Turkish Search and Rescue Region, involving a dry cargo ship with many irregular migrants and a commercial yacht. After the incident, a call for help was made from the ships, and an EPIRB distress signal was emitted. After Turkish Cypriot Radio received the ships' distress calls, the position and condition of the ships were inquired, and the information was shared with the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center (AAKKM) and the Naval Forces Search and Rescue Coordination Center (DZAKKM). Upon receiving the EPIRB distress signal, DZAKKM assigned the no. IV Assistant Search and Rescue Coordination Center (YAKKM) for the coordination of search and rescue operations.
For the purpose of responding to the incident, the no. IV Assistant Search and Rescue Coordination Center dispatched 2x Coast Guard Corvettes, 4x Coast Guard Boats, 3x Coast Guard Search Helicopters, and 1x Coast Guard Search Aircraft to the area. Upon the dry cargo ship reporting the sinking of the commercial yacht, DZAKKM requested support for search and rescue operations from the Air Forces Command (HVAKKM). Consequently, 1x Frigate and 1x Bayraktar TB2 UAV from the Naval Forces Command, and 1x SAR Aircraft, 1x SAR Helicopter, and 1x SAR Team from the Air Forces Command were dispatched to the area.
Additionally, upon DZAKKM's request, the Security Forces Command dispatched 3x TRNC Coast Guard Boats, 1x SAR Helicopter, 1x Ambulance Helicopter, and 2x Tugboats to the scene. After the Coast Guard Aircraft identified survivors on an inflatable rubber boat, the survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard SAR Helicopter using a Quick Strop and a floating stretcher and were transferred to the Coast Guard SAR Ship for initial treatment. Another group of survivors found in the open sea was rescued by fast rescue boats deployed from the Coast Guard SAR Ship after a Coast Guard Aircraft dropped an inflatable boat and a SAR kit on them and were then transferred to the ship for initial treatment. Additionally, Search and Rescue Qualified Personnel were parachuted into the sea from a Turkish Air Force SAR aircraft and rescued another stranded survivor with the Turkish Air Force SAR Helicopter.
In the final part of the exercise, 2x Coast Guard boats conducted blocking maneuvers to prevent and stop the escape of the dry cargo ship carrying irregular migrants. Following this, the Coast Guard Special Operations (SÖH) Team performed a VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) operation using Fast-roping and gained control of the uncooperative dry cargo ship. When the crew of the ship attempted to start a fire with the intent of not surrendering the ship, both the crew and the irregular migrants were evacuated via a Coast Guard boat. The fire was subsequently extinguished by the Coast Guard SAR Ship and Tugboats.
After successful completion of the second phase of the Martyr Ensign Caner Gönyeli-2024 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise, Turkish Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral (RADM) Ahmet KENDİR addressed the press members on board the TCSG YAŞAM Corvette. At the press briefing Rear Admiral (RADM) Ahmet KENDİR said, Turkish Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral (RADM) Ahmet KENDİR stated, "Responding to distress calls at sea and on land as quickly as possible and reaching those in need is a vital necessity. Our search and rescue organization, which operates with the principle of 'people first' in all its duties within its area of responsibility, is further enhancing its performance in search and rescue operations through these exercises conducted with the awareness of this necessity"
