Trouble before take off, Why did Ilker Ayci turn down Air India?

Ilker Ayci, the former Turkish Airlines chairman, who has chosen the departure gate even before the take off of his role as CEO of Air India.

Ayci said in a statement that he had read attempts “to colour my appointment with undesirable colours” in some sections of the Indian media. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such narrative,” he added.

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Ayci's appointment was opposed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and and said the job should go to a person of Indian origin.

He was due to take over on or before April 1 this year.

Ayci was an advisor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when the latter was mayor of Istanbul, from 1994 to 1998. He also served the Turkish Airlines as its chairman from 2015 to 2022 and was credited with turning the airline around.