Young Turkish engineer tragically loses her life in Istanbul scooter accident

Ecem Sultan Camli, a 28-year-old electrical and electronics engineer, was killed in a scooter accident while commuting to work in Istanbul’s Pendik district. Camli, a systems engineer at Türkiye’s DASAL Aviation and Space Technologies, was involved in key defense projects.

Driving the news: Around 8:45 a.m. on Osmanli Boulevard in Pendik’s Yenisehir neighborhood, 24-year-old truck driver Hasan Furkan Colak struck Camli from behind on her scooter, dragging her approximately 150 meters before pulling her under the vehicle. Despite rapid emergency response, Camli died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The details:

• Camli, a Balikesir University graduate, was dedicated to strengthening Türkiye’s defense sector, contributing her skills to innovative projects at DASAL.
• Authorities detained Colak at the scene of the scooter accident, charging him with “negligent manslaughter.”
• Police are conducting an in-depth investigation to understand the conditions that led to the accident.

The big picture: Camli’s death due to a scooter accident has resonated deeply within Türkiye’s aerospace and defense community, where she was recognized as an ambitious engineer who brought both talent and commitment to her work in advancing Türkiye’s technological goals.

Ecem Sultan Camli’s significant role in Türkiye’s defense technology sector

The Turkish engineer’s death after the unfortunate scooter accident has left a deep mark on Türkiye’s aerospace and defense community, where she was known for her technical skill and dedication.

At DASAL, she was involved in key projects aimed at strengthening Türkiye’s capabilities in high-tech aviation and defense. Just last week, she represented her team at the SAHA EXPO 2024 in Istanbul, where DASAL presented its latest advancements in aviation technology.

Camli shared her pride in her work, writing, “We took our place at the SAHA EXPO 2024 to promote innovations in defense and to stay updated with the latest developments in the industry. At DASAL, we are proud to exhibit our aircraft developed to strengthen Türkiye’s aviation and defense capabilities.”

Young Turkish engineer’s legacy of early achievements, dedication to technology

Camli’s passion for technology emerged early in her life. In 2010, as a primary school student in Balikesir, she earned international recognition by winning second place in the animation category at the International Information Olympics with her project on atomic structures.

Later, during her university years, she led the Ebabil Drone Team and became a member of the Balikesir Chamber of Commerce Women Entrepreneurs Board.

Beyond her role at DASAL, Camli served as president of the Ebabil Science and Technology Association, an organization she co-founded to advance Türkiye’s aviation and defense technology.

Through this association, the Turkish engineer collaborated with engineers on various projects aimed at expanding Türkiye’s influence in defense technology.

Camli’s colleagues described her as a driven engineer whose work and passion inspired those around her in Türkiye’s defense and technology sectors.

Public response, ongoing investigation into fatal scooter accident in Istanbul

Following the incident, Turkish authorities initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the factors that led to the accident.

The tragic event has sparked public debate about traffic safety regulations, especially for commuters using alternative transportation like scooters.

Camli’s death is a significant loss not only to her family and colleagues but also to Türkiye’s aerospace and defense sector, where she was recognized as an ambitious and talented young engineer, contributing to the nation’s future in technology and innovation.