The ghost airport of Nicosia: Rare glimpse inside the abandoned 1974 battleground
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- Nicosia International Airport was once a busy hub full of holidaymakers but since the Cyprus conflict of 1974, it has been frozen in time.
Today, the disused airport resembles a ghost town as it sits abandoned in the 180km buffer zone dividing the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied north.
On the 50th anniversary of the conflict, Forces News goes inside the eerie airport and learns how it became the site of a major battle.
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Absolutely brilliant little feature, well done for making this.
That little documentary was seriously good.
Cheers.
I did a 6 month UN tour in Cyprus in 1991, unbelievable that 33 years later the UNFICYP mission is still in place! The only thing that appears to have changed is that the paintwork on abandoned Trident has faded!
Used to patrol there in the 90s i found a toilet sign on the floor picked it up and its now on my Toilet door at home
Sounds like something to pass on to your children
Wasn't expecting that, very interesting.
Our family left Cyprus in 1974, as RAF families we were evacuated back to the UK. What we left in our home in Limassol was lost. I was 9 years old and left a comic on the kitchen table, open to "Klanky". At one point we finished up in a hot (very hot) ditch with the Greeks and Turks firing at each other from either side. A Scottish military person went into the valley between the two sides, playing the bagpipes very loudly. This signalled to both sides that the British were in the middle, and neither side had reason to cause a problem with the British, so they stopped firing at each other for long enough that we could get out of there and towards Akrotiri base. Some weeks later we finally got back to the UK. Now I like to visit Cyprus on holiday, but to me it's a little bit more than just a holiday destination.
Airports are always the first battlegrounds. Very good video. My parents were on holiday there in 1965!!
Every point on earth is connected through the air space. This makes airport no. 1 strategic assets.
I remember Nicosia International in its heyday. As a small boy flying in and out of the country. Thought it was quite cool then.
Me too.
I was last there in 1972 having arrived aboard a BEA Trident.
Flew in a Cyprus Airways one too.
Pigeon poo and rubbish notwithstanding, the terminal is still recognisable as the one I frequented.
@@michaelevans205 Yes my last visit was 1972 too on a Cyprus Airways flight
No Cypriot National Guard personnel fought in the battle for the Nicosia Airport, the clash was between the Turkish paras and the Greek A' Commando/Para Squadron that had just arrived from mainland Greece under Major Georgios Papameletiou
The video did not claim they were involved, it just said they were at the airport. Or are you just adding extra info? If so, thanks.
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Yes, the Greek commandos did fight bravely but the rest of us fought with them. I should know I was there. Where were you during those days 50 years ago?
@@linosantoniades901 I was a toddler, but I insist, besides arty support and a couple of Marmon Herrington light tanks, no Cypriot National Guard personnel fought in the battle for the Nicosia Airport
My veteran father fought in the Turkish army as an ordnance major sergeant in that war. He left home in 1974, saying he was going to shooting competitions. We realized a week later that he was going on a combat mission, not a competition. My father returned home after 16 months
Whilst serving with the Royal Green Jackets early 80s we got presented with our U.N. Medal on Nicosia Airport Apron. Then the Trident looked ready for take off.
Went back to visit 5B-DAB on the 40th anniversary. I crouched in the LHS position while Stu completed the shutdown checklist from the P2 position that he failed to do early hours on July 20th 1974 after arriving from LHR! Then it was a virtual Keo at the Trident Pub by the roundabout!
A lot of water under one bridge …
Did a UN tour way back in 77 and was based just up the road from Nic airport , loved the whole tour and because we were the transport part of BRITCON we got to see most of the island both sides of the boarder . Great times great memories .
Great feature, i did a 6 month UN tour there 1997/98, this brings back memories, still got the photo of my regiment sitting in the wing of the trident
My stepfather worked for BEA and him and mum only thought of going on holiday. I'm sure my savings used to fund a bit of it. Well they called in on myself and new wife and casually said, we are off on holiday tomorrow, going to Cyprus and I said " are you sure about doing that, there is a battle brewing out there?" Mum replied that won't be anything, it will just fizzle out. Well seemed that they had to hide under the seats at the airport, with bullets being heard. Wish I'd asked now how they got on and if they stayed for the whole holiday. Best Dave
Echoes of the sad past. Still today things are not decided
I wish mainstream media would stop saying Turkish cypriots in the north,the majority of the population in the north of Cyprus is planted settlers from Turkey,there are fewer turkish cypriots in cyprus today than 1974 when Turkey invaded
The press officer is working in his ability as a UN representative so has to be as neutral as possible. Hence also his use of the term "Turkish interventioninvasion" when he clearly wants to say "Turkish invasion".
Over than100 hundred tousend turkish cypriots had to leave cyprus during makorios era in order not to be massacred bythe eoka gangs that have been sent from junta greece.
@huseyincembaykan1289 They where a tiny minority of only 18% that where used as a tool by the British to prevent self determination of the vast majority of the Islands population of Greek Descent.
Turkey have brought in settlers since 1974 to increase the Turkish population in Cyprus,again there are fewer Turkish Cypriots in cyprus today than ever before.
Illegal settlers don't count I'm afraid.
I wish recent university liberal arts Western wokesters would quit trying to label the entire world in terms of settlers and victims.
@@jeffspicolli593 Stating a fact isnt being a "western wokester" nor am I speaking about the entire world.
dont go off in all directions that make no sense if a fact makes you feel uncomfortable
Fascinating documentary, still that airport is in limbo today, thank you for posting, I learned a lot from it.
50 years have passed and still no solution to the Cyprus problem. I was fighting against the Turkish army at Nicosia airport. I also started off the first translation between our forces and a British UN officer. It was a hell of a battle until the ceasefire.
My brother was stationed there for 2 years. 1950-1952!!!!!!!!! So so sad!!!!!!!!!!
I was posted to the airport in 1986 as part of 7 Sqn RCT, who were actually at the airport when it was attacked. In 2 weeks time we are having a tour of Jubilee Camp for members of 7 Sqn who served there from the mid 70s to the late 80s.
50 years anniversary since the invasion , not a mention anywhere !
Then again the video didn't really show you a glimpse of the airport either other than the roof.
Thanks you for this video on a small almost forgotten part of history.
Phil Brazier. Remember him as a Cpl joining our Squadron back in the 90,s
Looks like he needs a maternity uniform 😅
I got to visit this airport when we visited the graveyard, where British soldiers were buried as we had a relative buried there. The un army member that was our chaperone gave us a tour not inside but of the outside and many other places in the area. I was 14 at the time, and it was an amazing experience, scary at times when you have towers with Turkish army members pointing guns at all times in certain areas.
Long time since that captain had to do a BFT lol.
Brave canadian. I met a greek australian who got caught up in this war when he made a bad decision on timing his holiday back home. He finished the holiday with a lasting lesson on taking care to be aware of politics when planning holidays…😢. ❤
Can this guy actually pass his Battle Fitness Test ?
Was thinking the same, I think he is Territorial Army, reservist.
British Army website: 71 Eng Regt are a reserve Air Support and Theatre Enabling engineer squadron.
United Nations are evil and a toothless tiger with their pretty little blue berrets.
When was the last time he passed a BFT?
30 years ago I visited Cyprus and our cousin took us to this airport to show us. At great risk, he also drove us in his Ford Sierra Cosworth on the airport runway at around 200kmh! Luckily, he didn't get caught.
An excellent, informative film,thank you.
Doesn’t seem to have changed much since I was there in Jubilee Camp, (right behind the main building) Jun to Dec 77 -Certa Cito-
Great information, on an unfortunate situation. Beautiful Island Cyprus. Hopefully at some point a diplomatic solution will be found.
*Cyprus.
It’s so painful to see this once beautiful aircraft in such a condition
It’s so painful to see this once beautiful airport in such a condition.
I would love to visit this area and see this area stuck in the 1970s, stuck under war conditions. Hopefully they will reunite in another 50 years if not sooner.
🇨🇦 that is much more Canadian than an F-JT sticker on a pickup truck! Back when we were a little better eh!
@6:04 i think he meant to say Hostomel Airport
That's what I thought too.
I always thought it interesting that the nosegear on Trident airliners is significantly offset to the port side of the fuselage and is retracted laterally.
1:20 The Tirks also used C-160 Transalls to drop paratroops
What I don't get is all the windows and glass go. It's a no go zone, but it seems it gets stripped of value. Just the shell remains pretty much.
People needed to rebuild so it was fair game in a war torn country, proven 50 years later and what do you have - just decay.
Incredible that fifty years ago, the United Nations actually managed to bring a conflict to a state of cease-fire, with its forces acting with bravery. My how things have changed for the worse with that giant embarrassment to humanity.
Brilliant!
Served at the UN Brit attachment Nicosia Airport in early 90s. Alongside Swedish, Danish and Irish. Also Aussie police. Army Air corp detachment. All since cut back.
When I was there last year there were Danish, British, Argentinan and if I remember right, a detachment of Irish.
UN, UN, UN... I think that he didn't mention on purpose that Greeks held the place under the heavy Turkish attack. After that, UN kicked in but and included the airport within the buffer zone. Such a tragedy.
Served here in 1978 on buffer zone stopped at Nicosia airport it SNOWED yes i did say Snowed.lol😊
Avaiation enthusiasts think 'Return to flight?'.
BFT timings are lengthened with age.
How the greed of some people destroys civilizations
Didn't know Cyprus is divided into two
🇺🇳 Because of their position, UN peacekeeping forces are only allowed to carry minimal armaments for self-defense. However, in the past, Leclerc tanks and self-propelled guns have been used to suppress armed forces. Incidentally, the military man I respect the most is Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire.
Leclerc tanks and SP guns in Cyprus? When was that? I tried googling but could find no information whatsoever.
@@AtheistOrphan
違う紛争地の話し
A 50-year U.N. peacekeeping mission is crazy....
Also that it is within Europe.
@@se-kmg355 it's rather sad, this situation is not been resolved.
Ive been there
The UN should be better stewards of this inceasingly valuable time capsule.
An airport unchanged since the 1970s except for decay from neglect.
If the UN were to maintain the buildings, it would still look like it does today due to all the idiotic bureaucracy of that "organization".
The UN can do diddly squat without the cooperation of both sides and that is not going to happen.
For a no nans land it has been well pilfered
Actual truth and real facts as the ceasefire first started. The Greeks and Greek Cypriots did not allow it to fall. I should know as I translated the first words to the British officer. He was shocked to hear a London accent coming out of my mouth. These are the very words I had to translate. " We will all die here first before the airport falls into Turkish hands and you will all die with us "These very words were said and we meant it! The British UN army camp was between us and the advancing Turkish army. Only the truth is told and I believe if the British and some Canadians were not there who knows what the outcome would have been? Most likely the Turkish armed forces would have taken the airport at a later time. We had one death and one injured during the battle. The Turks had great failures, many dead and injured trying to take the airport.
Turkey's out of Europe 😡
A sad mess sadly.
Why don't you call it an invasion and an illegal occupation any more?? Why don't you support Cyprus as Ukraine, when its the same scenario!
So much for the British guarantee
The UN resolutions declare it an ILLEGAL TURKISH INVASION AND OCCUPATION ! why major Tom calls it invasion/intervention such a bottle job! The airport did not fall because the Greeks did not allow it to fall! Legendary defence.
Absolutely correct that the Greeks and Greek Cypriots did not allow it to fall. I should know as I translated the first words to the British officer. He was shocked to hear a London accent coming out of my mouth. These are the very words I had to translate. " We will all die here first before the airport falls into Turkish hands and you will all die with us "These very words were said and we meant it. The British UN army camp was between us and the advancing Turkish army. Only the truth is told and I believe if the British along with some Canadians were not there who knows what the outcome would have been?
hi
That Captain looks out of shape. M
Souvlaki or Iskender.
Great eyebrows though!
BAD VIDEO. Most shots are of the army captain telling us what is happening. Not many shots of the airport. Lots of shots of the guy talking. I was hoping to see something of the airport!
There isn't anything left. That terminal building and the plane on the apron. There's some tiny maintenance sheds but they're destroyed. It really is all you can see.
Thank the Islamists of Turkey for all this...
Dear all gumbares
Please note that
Cyprus is divided
And
Never join again....
In 2004 was your last chance to join island but you said NO....
It's 50 years now and as you clearly seen Northern Cyprus is independent county
Please drink one bottle of keo beer
Make you happy....
😡 who is this guy, refering to a country that is not recognised by the UN, saying it's the Turkey Cypriot side, no its the Turkish side, remember they illegally occupied this land!!!
HELLO. U.N.😊
invasion*
Soldier needs to lay off the Big Macs…
Would liked to have seen more of the airport rather than listening to a biased soldier talking about the battle.
Bring a UN flag to the US and see what happens
Hmmnnnn where are the UN forces as far as the Gaza/Isreal conflict concerned, too hot?!!
If we can have a peace line between an invading force and the nation being invaded like this in Cyprus, why can’t there be the same thing done in Ukraine, instead of perpetuating the death and destruction by continuing to arm Zelensky?
Putin is the one behind the death and destruction. The war can end if he withdraws from Ukraine.
Who ate all the pies?
He did 😂