Dismissed Commander Mete Kuş on the front page of Yeni Şafak: 'Our Mete...'
Yeni Şafak, a newspaper close to the government, covered the controversy surrounding the dismissal of Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Commander Mete Kuş on its front page. It had been alleged that Kuş was reassigned to headquarters due to low-altitude flights by fighter jets and helicopters during a Fenerbahçe match. Yeni Şafak defended Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Commander Mete Kuş. In the article titled 'They dismissed the guardian,' it was recalled that Kuş had been targeted on social media and that President Erdoğan had referred to him as 'Our Mete.'
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Following the dismissal of Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Commander Major General Mete Kuş, the front page of the pro-government newspaper Yeni Şafak drew attention.
The newspaper defended Kuş, running the story under the headline "They dismissed the guardian." The article also referenced President Erdoğan's past remarks, where he referred to Kuş as "Our Mete."
LOW-ALTITUDE FLIGHTS DURING THE TÜMOSAN KONYASPOR-FENERBAHÇE MATCH
Barış Terkoğlu's statements on Onlar TV the previous day provided clues regarding the reasons for Kuş's dismissal. Terkoğlu pointed out that fighter jets and helicopters in Konya conducted low-altitude flights during the Tümosan Konyaspor-Fenerbahçe match played on April 21. These flights, which took place in the evening hours that day, were broadcast on television screens and raised questions in the public eye.
SUPPORT BANNER FROM THE KONYA 3RD MAIN JET BASE COMMAND
A notable banner also appeared in the Konyaspor stands during the match. The banner, which read "Success to the eagles of the grass from the eagles of the skies," featured the emblem of the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command and images of fighter jets. It has been suggested that this banner may have been one of the factors contributing to Kuş's dismissal.
The farewell message Kuş sent to his colleagues before his dismissal also became a topic of discussion. Sharing this message, Terkoğlu stated that Kuş would be assigned to the Air Force Command and would hand over his duties to Brigadier General Esat Çetin. In his message, Kuş stated, "My greatest happiness is that none of my friends have been harmed," expressing that he had focused on the unity and solidarity of the unit during his tenure.
"OUR METE"
Among the reasons cited for Kuş's dismissal are the support shown by a TSK unit for a football team and the negative impression created by the low-altitude flights. However, according to Yeni Şafak, emphasis was placed on the fact that President Erdoğan's support for Kuş—expressed in 2017 after Kuş sent a salute to the Presidential plane with an F-16 fighter jet, saying "This is our Mete"—has not been forgotten. Erdoğan had also not remained indifferent to a video shared by Kuş on Victory Day. However, his failure to salute Atatürk had caused discomfort in some circles.
YENİ ŞAFAK'S "OUR METE" HEADLINE
Following the dismissal of Mete Kuş, Yeni Şafak defended him with an article titled "They dismissed the guardian," while highlighting that Erdoğan had previously called him "Our Mete." The newspaper also alleged that Kuş had been targeted via social media.