Pilot refutes allegations

A Saudi pilot has refuted claims by a TV station that Turkey had refused to allow two private planes to land in Istanbul.

The station did not mention the reasons for the alleged rejection, but said it could be linked to the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2.

“No aircraft can take off from the departure airport unless it has a permit to cross international airspace, a permit to enter the airspace of the country to which it is flying and a permission to land at the airport,” Captain Ali Al Jasser tweeted.