Filo Jet sank despite hull cracks, unseaworthy for open sea, report finds

September 2, 2026 at 03:30 AM2 min

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The passenger ferry Filo Jet capsized and sank four miles off the coast of Girne, Northern Cyprus, with 268 people aboard, killing eight and leaving 20 missing. An insurance surveyors' report found the vessel was unseaworthy, with hull cracks from a previous storm, yet was allowed to sail. The captain and crew failed to respond to water ingress warnings, and the ship was designed for lakes, not open sea.

Key Facts

The Filo Jet capsized and sank four miles off Girne, Northern Cyprus, with 268 passengers aboard, killing eight and leaving 20 missing.
Insurance surveyors found the catamaran had hull cracks from a recent storm and was technically unseaworthy before the voyage.
The ship was originally built for lake navigation, not open sea, and had been damaged in an accident 12 years earlier.
Captain Mustafa Öz, 66, held a captain's license issued in Honduras two years ago, valid until 2029 but not recognized in Turkey.
The wreck was located at a depth of 550 meters, and search continues for the 20 missing passengers.

Surveyors' Findings

The insurance surveyors' report documented that the catamaran had sustained heavy damage in a storm shortly before the incident. Cracks had formed in the hull structure, and the vessel lacked technical seaworthiness, yet it continued to carry passengers. The report also revealed that the ship had been built for lake navigation, not for the open sea. Twelve years earlier, the vessel had been damaged in an accident, repaired, and received a sailing permit in 2024.

Crew Failures

Warnings that the ship was taking on water were dismissed by the crew with 'It's nothing,' and the captain insisted on continuing. When the hull rapidly flooded and an explosion occurred, the crew panicked and fled instead of implementing the evacuation plan. Passengers received no information, and many were forced to jump into the sea without life jackets. Captain Mustafa Öz, 66, held a captain's license issued in Honduras two years prior, valid until 2029 but not recognized in Turkey.

Search and Investigation

Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhürman stated that an object believed to be the wreck was located at a depth of 550 meters. The search for the 20 missing passengers continues using a remotely operated underwater vehicle capable of scanning to 1,000 meters. The report has increased legal pressure on public officials who granted port departure clearance despite adverse weather.