The Name of Fethiye is Inherited from a Heroic Pilot

The Name of Fethiye, a Legacy from a Heroic Pilot

Fethiye, one of today's most popular tourist destinations, takes its name from the heroic Pilot Captain Fethi Bey, one of the first aviation martyrs of the Ottoman Empire. The city's name is rooted in a tragic loss in Turkish aviation history.

The previous name of Fethiye was Meğri (Makri), meaning "distant land" in Greek.

In ancient times, this region was one of the most important cities of Lycia, known as the "Land of Lights," and was referred to as Telmessos.

The Story of the Name Change

In 1914, Captain Fethi Bey, one of the first pilots of the Ottoman Empire, and his assistant Sadık Bey took off on a flight from Istanbul to Cairo with an aircraft they named "Muavenet-i Milliye." However, this historic flight ended in tragedy when the plane crashed near Taberiye Lake close to Damascus on February 27, 1914. Fethi Bey and Sadık Bey were martyred in this accident, becoming the first losses in Turkish aviation history.

Following this tragic event, in order to commemorate the heroic pilot, the city, known as Meğri at the time, was renamed "Fethiye" in 1914. Thus, the name of the city was immortalized with the name of a brave soldier who gave his life in the skies for his country.

In short, today's name of Fethiye is recorded in history not for the ancient Telmessos or the recent Meğri, but as a symbol of the tribute paid by the Turkish people to their hero.