Sureyya Yigitbasi’s journey into aviation law began with a personal tragedy that forever changed his life. On November 30, 2007, he lost both of his parents in the crash of Atlas Jet Flight 4203 in Isparta, Turkey. This was not only a devastating emotional blow but also presented significant legal challenges, as the crash involved a foreign airline, occurred outside of the United States, and his parents were not U.S. residents.

Determined to seek justice for his family, Mr. Yigitbasi embarked on the complicated process of filing a lawsuit in the United States, a path that many would not even realize was possible in such circumstances. As a former client of Ribbeck Law, he personally experienced the legal hurdles of pursuing a case against a foreign airline in a domestic Turkish crash. His experience navigating U.S. courts, despite the international nature of the incident and his parents’ non-U.S. residency, gave him deep insights into the complexities faced by families in similar situations.

Inspired by the dedication and guidance he received during his own legal battle, Sureyya decided to pursue a career in aviation law. His personal experience allows him to genuinely empathize with families of victims from across the globe. He now helps others understand their rights and how they can file lawsuits in the U.S., even when the crash involves foreign airlines or occurs outside the country. His role is not just that of a lawyer, but as someone who has walked the path his clients are now on, making him uniquely qualified to provide both legal and emotional support.

Since joining Ribbeck Law in 2007, Sureyya has become an invaluable part of the team. He offers a wealth of legal expertise combined with his personal understanding of the emotional and legal complexities that arise in such cases.

Sureyya graduated with high honors from the Law Faculty of İstanbul University in Turkey and is a member of the İstanbul Bar of Attorneys. He represents numerous local and international clients, including global corporations, in complex aviation cases.

Mr. Yigitbasi has been involved in the following aviation cases:

• Flydubai Flight 981, March 19, 2016, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

• Metrojet Flight 9268, October 31, 2015, Sinai, Egypt

• Turkish Airlines Flight TK726, March 4, 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal

• Scat Airlines Flight 760, January 29, 2013, Kazakhstan

• Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836, April 13, 2010, Manokwari, Indonesia

• Aeroflot Flight 821, September 14, 2008, Perm, Russia

• Spanair Flight 5022, August 20, 2008, Madrid, Spain

• Atlas Jet Flight 4203, November 30, 2007, Isparta, Turkey

Fluent in Turkish, Mr. Yigitbasi enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with them. He is the proud father of a beautiful daughter.