Statement from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs can confirm that it has been in a communication with the Turkish authorities regarding the arrival of the Turkish National Football Team to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday evening.

The Ministry has been informed by the airport operating company Isavia that the security check followed required procedures.

As stated in a press release from Isavia, the Turkish National Football Team was traveling from an airport outside the EU/Schengen area, which is not recognized as a One Stop Security airport. All passengers, irrespective of nationality, traveling from such airports to Keflavik Airport undergo security check on arrival as a matter of standard procedure. The Turkish National Football Team and staff had passed through security check and border patrol 1hr 21 minutes from the time their plane landed in Keflavik Airport.

Unfortunately, an official request for fast track security check from the Turkish Embassy in Oslo was not received in time to be processed, as it was sent on only hours prior to the team’s arrival in Keflavik. In any case, such privilege is usually only accorded to senior government officials.

*The statement has been updated to reflect that the security check did not take 1hr 23 minutes as previously stated but rather that the Turkish National Football Team and staff had passed through security and border control 1hr 21 minutes after their plane landed.

The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs has responded to the views put forward by Turkish authorities.