Three Azerbaijani citizens have been detained as part of an investigation into the sinking of the high-speed passenger vessel Filo Jet off the coast of Girne (Kyrenia), Northern Cyprus, which left eight people dead and 20 missing.


The detainees are Valeh Humbatov, 28, from Palchighoba village in Azerbaijan’s Khachmaz district; Rashad Ibrahimov, 20, a native of Tartar district who lives in Baku; and Gadir Guliyev, 22, from Shabran district, Caliber.Az reports per local media.


The accident occurred on August 30 as Filo Jet was sailing from Girne to Mersin, Türkiye. Shortly after leaving port, the vessel began taking on water in the bow. Although the crew attempted to return, the vessel capsized and sank. Eight people died, 20 remain missing, and 241 passengers were evacuated.




Humbatov’s mother, Yegana Humbatova, said that her son had gone to Türkiye to work on a vessel for the first time. He had previously spent five months working as a sailor on a cargo ship before transferring to the passenger vessel about a month ago. He was due to return home this month.


During the accident, Humbatov briefly told his fiancée that the vessel was sinking. He later called his mother and said the crew was helping evacuate passengers and that he would contact the family after reaching shore. He subsequently told his fiancée that they were going to be detained. His relatives have been unable to contact him since.


Rashad Ibrahimov’s sister, Turkan Tahmazova, said her brother had travelled to Türkiye just 20 days before the accident to work on the vessel. The family initially feared he had died after reports of numerous fatalities emerged.


The company that arranged his employment later confirmed that Ibrahimov was alive. His belongings, including his phone, were lost when the vessel sank. His family eventually spoke to him through the phone of another Azerbaijani crew member, and Ibrahimov said he was in hospital.


Tahmazova said the family learned of his detention through social media, after seeing photographs of the three Azerbaijani citizens in handcuffs. According to the employment company, Ibrahimov has no connection to the incident and was detained as part of a routine procedure given the high number of casualties. He has been provided with a lawyer and remains in contact with his family.


The family of Gadir Guliyev has also been unable to reach him since the tragedy. His brother, Nurat Guliyev, said Gadir had been working as a sailor on the vessel since April.


“After the accident, he told our mother that the vessel had sunk but that they were alive. He said they had been taken away to give statements,” Nurat Guliyev said.


He added that representatives of the vessel’s owner had assured the family that there was no reason for concern.


By Vafa Guliyeva