After 299 days in Ukraine, the two Turkish A400Ms were again visible on the aircraft tracking sites. They left Ukrainian airspace from the west of Ukraine to pass through northern Romania before flying towards central Turkey. No Turkish fighter aircraft were visible, but a Turkish tanker and above all a Turkish advanced air surveillance and command aircraft were also flying over Romania.
On February 24, 2022 at Kiev-Boryspil airport around 01:30 in the morning, two Turkish A400M Atlas tactical transport aircraft had landed as the Russians began their invasion of Ukraine. This same Russian invasion however prevented them from taking off again for Turkey. Moreover, both aircraft were visible on satellite photos of the airport, such as on March 11 (more info in this article).
However, the situation seems to have changed because on December 20, 2022, both aircraft were again visible on tracking sites. Indeed, at 15:42 (GMT+1, Paris time), a first A-400M (TUAF600, 18-0093) appeared in flight west of Ukraine towards northern Romania. It was followed by the second and last aircraft (TUAF601, 17-0080) at 15h54 (GMT+1). Both A400Ms landed at Kayseri Erkilet Air Base (Kayseri, Turkey). This base hosts the entirety of the Turkish Air Force's tactical transport aircraft.
No Turkish combat aircraft were visible on online tracking sites. Instead, a Turkish KC-135R Stratotanker tanker was in the air over central Romania, as was an E-7T Peace Eagle (Turkish version of the E-7 Wedgetail) forward airborne lookout and command aircraft (AEW&C) in northern Romania.
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