coup was when the Turkish government dropped 12 bombs on the Akıncı Air Base. Relocation and redevelopment Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said while addressing a crowd in the Kazan district of Ankara, which houses the base: "That Akıncı Air Base which nested traitors will be closed and it will be turned into a place where the memories of our martyrs will be kept alive". On August 12, 2016, Minister of National Defense Fikri Işık stated that there was popular support for relocating the air base and redeveloping the area into a "democracy park". On September 6, 2016, the Turkish Air Force renamed the air base "Mürted", which was the name it went by until 1995. "Mürted" means "apostate", and it was given to the site in reference to the desertion of some troops of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I (reigned 1389‒1403) in the Battle of Ankara (1402) against the Timurid Empire. The base's status was downgraded so that it is commanded by a group captain instead of an air commodore before. With a governmental decree issued under the state of emergency, the three air squadrons were deactivated, and the air base jet fighters were transferred to be embedded at the 5th Air Wing Merzifon AFB, 1st Air Wing Eskişehir AFB and 3rd Training Wing Konya AFB. The final destination of the TAI facilities hosted by the air base remains unclear. Name and status change The facility was initially named "Mürted" after the location in Ankara at its establishment as an airbase. In 1993, the air base was renamed "Akıncı" in honor of Staff Group captain Erol Akıncı, who died during a flight mission in 1968. The facility's status as an airbase was downgraded in September 2016 to an airfield following the 15 July 2016 coup d'état attempt because it played a major role as the headquarters of the plot, and subsequently relocation of the 4th Air Wing. Other airports in Ankara Esenboğa International Airport Etimesgut Air Base Güvercinlik Army Air Base References External links Turkish Air Force bases Airports in Turkey Buildings and structures in Ankara Military in Ankara Transport in Ankara Province 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt Kahramankazan Defunct airports in Turkey