Diversion to Tekirdag

[golf yankee one one]

A bizarre experience this morning, and a first for me. Approaching IST on TK371 at around 0530 we were advised by the captain that we would need to hold for around 15 mins because of traffic volume. Some time later he further advised us that traffic congestion was so bad that we could not land at IST, and would be diverting to Tekirdag (TEQ). After digesting this most unwelcome news we were proceeding westwards at about 15000 ft when the plane made a sharp turn and began to descend rapidly. About 10 mins later we landed - at IST!
A diverted diversion?
I thought the new IST had minimised the need for this sort of manoeuvre.