A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the skies over Waterford, leaving behind shock, sorrow, and questions that remain unanswered.
A father of two, 48-year-old Bircan Dokuzlar, originally from Turkey, has been identified as the pilot who lost his life when his light aircraft went down during an attempted emergency landing near Waterford Airport last Thursday around 12:50 p.m. The incident occurred as he was trying desperately to bring the plane down safely in a nearby field.
The aircraft had departed from Sligo and was bound for Beziers, France. Partway through the journey, something went terribly wrong. But here’s where it gets even more concerning: investigators say Mr. Dokuzlar turned the plane back toward Waterford after flying off the south coast of Ireland—an indication that he was fighting to regain control in the air or facing a serious mechanical problem.
Emergency services, including the Coast Guard unit Rescue 117, quickly responded to the crash site. Despite their rapid arrival, the impact proved fatal.
According to preliminary findings, the aircraft—identified as a privately owned Vulcanair P68C—had been stored in Sligo for several months before the flight. While this detail doesn’t confirm any direct connection to the crash, it raises understandable questions about maintenance and readiness. And here’s another point of concern: due to the aircraft’s small size, it wasn’t equipped with a cockpit voice recorder, meaning investigators have no audio data to help piece together the pilot’s final moments.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit continues to probe the exact cause, though early indications suggest that weather conditions did not play a role. That fact shifts the spotlight toward possible technical or operational issues.
In the wake of the tragedy, friends and colleagues of Mr. Dokuzlar have launched a GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/dokuzlar-ailesine-destek-kampanyasi) to support his grieving family. The page honors him as “a diligent, honest, and dedicated man” who worked tirelessly to provide for his loved ones, even through hardship.
Campaign organizer Kaan Demiroz shared heartfelt words: “This sudden and devastating loss has not only left his family heartbroken but has also placed on them the heavy burden of funeral, burial, and transportation expenses, alongside the emotional pain of continuing without him. All funds collected will help the Dokuzlar family navigate this painful period and provide them a small moment of relief.” To date, the campaign has raised more than €33,000.
But the bigger question still hangs in the air: what exactly caused a seasoned pilot like Mr. Dokuzlar to lose control that day? Was it a mechanical failure, a misjudgment, or perhaps an unseen factor no one could have predicted? As investigators work to uncover the full truth, the aviation community and the public are left waiting—and hoping—for answers.
What are your thoughts? Should small private aircraft be required to carry cockpit recorders for safety investigations, even if it’s not mandatory? Share your view in the comments—this is one debate the flying community can’t afford to ignore.
