Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy was trapped in an elevator at the CIP Terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) for more than half an hour, Adhadhu has learnt.

A reliable source told Adhadhu that several family members were also trapped in the elevator yesterday (January 24). It took about 35 minutes for the minister and his family to be evacuated after the problem was resolved.

The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) said it would have to look into whether such an incident had happened.

Mehmet was scheduled to fly to Istanbul from on Turkish Airlines.

According to Flight Radar, the flight, which was scheduled to depart at 9:55 pm, took off at 10:34 pm. But it is unclear whether the delay was due to the elevator incident.

Mehmet has been the Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Turkish Cabinet since 2018. He met with President Mohamed Muizzu during his visit to Turkey in November 2023.