TRABZON - A military ceremony took place at Trabzon Airport on Wednesday out of respect to 62 Spanish soldiers who lost their lives when an Ukrainian plane crashed on Monday morning near Kockine hamlet in Sahinkaya region in Macka town of northern province of Trabzon.
Coffins of Spanish soldiers were taken to the airport by military vehicles carrying Turkish flags.
Turkish soldiers loaded the coffins in C-130 type Spanish cargo planes.
The first plane took off from Trabzon at 5.50 a.m. while the second plane took off at 07.00 a.m.
After the second plane took off, a military ceremony was held out of respect to Spanish soldiers.
Trabzon Governor Aslan Yildirim, Mayor Niyazi Surmen, 48th Domestic Security Brigade Commander Rauf Altinok and Spanish military officials were in attendance at the ceremony.
During the ceremony, six coffins draped in Spanish flag were carried by Turkish soldiers.
Turkish soldiers have taken tight security measures in and around the airport.
Following the ceremony, the third plane took off at 8.25 a.m.
(UK-AY) 28.05.2003