Staff released a statement saying that the debate "mocked national values" and was "not conducive to social peace". Hrant Dink, the journalist who wrote the article, came under criticism, most notably from newspaper columnists and Turkish nationalist groups. A US consul dispatch leaked by WikiLeaks and penned by an official from the consulate in Istanbul observed that the entire affair "exposed an ugly streak of racism in Turkish society." It is also believed that the affair was one of the reasons that led to Hrant Dink's assassination in Istanbul in January 2007. Legacy and recognition Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul is named after her. It opened on 8 January 2001, ten weeks before her death. She is recognized as the first female combat pilot by The Guinness Book of World Records. She was selected as the only female pilot for the poster of "The 20 Greatest Aviators in History" published by the United States Air Force in 1996. That year, she was also honored at the Air Command and Staff College's Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell Air Force Base. The program encourages the study of aviation history by emphasizing the contributions of aviation pioneers. She was the subject of a Google Doodle honouring her birthday, which was displayed in Turkey on 22 March 2009. Death Gökçen died of heart failure at the age of 88 at Gülhane Military Medical Academy on 22 March 2001. Awards and medals Number one Medal of Övünç (Murassa) and certificate of Turkish Aeronautical Association, The Badge of the White Eagle, the highest badge given by the Yugoslav Army, and an army badge, Romanian Army Aviation Badge, Commemorative medals awarded for the Thracian and Aegean maneuvers, Pioneer women's plaque in their professions, given at the ceremony in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on the 50th anniversary of Turkish women gaining suffrage and election rights, Honorary Doctor of Selcuk University, Gold medal awarded by THK in 1989, The FAI gold medal, awarded by the International Aviation Federation in 1991 to aviators showing outstanding success in all branches of aviation, The title of "one of the 20 aviators who made their mark in world history" at the ceremony at the USA's Maxwell Air Base in 1996, 28 plaques given by the army, various associations and organizations. Gallery See also Bedriye Tahir Gökmen Ahmet Ali Çelikten List of firsts in aviation References Notes References External links Atatürk Arşivi