Two Belgians rescued after aircraft ditches in Black Sea off Türkiye's Rize province
Why It MattersThe incident underscores how quickly a routine general-aviation ferry flight over water can turn into a coordinated air-sea rescue when engine trouble leaves no landing option nearby.
What happened
Two Belgian nationals were rescued by Coast Guard teams after their private aircraft suffered engine failure and ditched in the Black Sea approximately four miles off Türkiye's northeastern Rize province. The men were identified as Vlasselaer Werner, 55, and Christian Peiffer, 69.
Both were taken to Kackar State Hospital for medical checks and were reported to be in good condition. Rize Governor Ihsan Selim Baydas said authorities were alerted after the aircraft established contact with the control tower at Rize-Artvin Airport while the crew was attempting to fly from Batumi, Georgia, to Ordu-Giresun Airport. "They could not approach the airport; they could not make it there. Our teams were immediately put on alert. Our Coast Guard teams reached the aircraft," Baydas said, describing it as "an accident that could have been much worse."
The Pazar District Governor's Office confirmed the aircraft was a training plane that developed engine trouble after departing Batumi, prompting the pilots to contact Rize-Artvin Airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft remained floating on the surface as Coast Guard teams commenced recovery operations, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
Industry impact & what to watch
Cross-border general-aviation flights over open water depend on early radio contact with the nearest control tower the moment a problem develops, and that contact here gave authorities enough warning to stage a Coast Guard response before the aircraft went down. The outcome — both occupants recovered in good condition — reflects how quickly search-and-rescue assets near a coastal airport can be mobilized once a distress call is logged.
What remains open is the cause of the engine failure, which the ongoing investigation will need to establish before any broader lessons about the aircraft or route can be drawn. The next marker to watch is whatever findings the investigation into the incident produces, and whether the Pazar District Governor's Office or aviation authorities release further detail on the training flight's operator or planned route.
