A Turkish military helicopter, an S-70, came down in Malatya province, eastern Turkey, on Thursday evening, killing all four military personnel on board. The Turkish Defence Ministry and Hindustan Times, citing NTV both confirmed the crash and the death toll.
NTV reported that the aircraft went down at approximately 18:45 local time in the Samanköy area of Yeşilyurt district, in the country's east.
What the Defence Ministry Said
The Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed the loss in a formal statement, saying: "As a result of the crash of our S-70 type helicopter in Malatya for an as yet undetermined reason, 4 of our heroic comrades on board the helicopter were martyred."
The ministry added: "We pray to God for mercy upon our martyrs, and offer our condolences and prayers for strength to their grieving families, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation."
Both the Turkish Defence Ministry announcement and NTV's reporting confirmed the four fatalities.
Cause Unknown
NTV reported that the cause of the crash had not been determined at the time of the announcement. No further technical information about the flight or the circumstances of the accident has been released.
We are not speculating on cause. Our Squawk 7700 hub carries the latest on this and other aviation accidents and incidents as they develop.
Turkish Military Helicopter Accidents in Context
The loss of four crew members in a single accident is a significant blow. Military helicopter operations in mountainous eastern Turkey carry inherent demands, though we draw no conclusions from that fact alone pending any official investigation findings.
Readers with an interest in the aircraft type involved can use our Aircraft Search to explore the S-70 and related variants. The S-70 is the military designation for the Sikorsky Black Hawk family, one of the most widely operated military helicopters in the world.
This crash follows a series of fatal rotary-wing accidents we have covered in recent months, including a firefighting helicopter that came down into an Indonesian river in November, killing one crew member.
The Bottom Line
Four Turkish soldiers have lost their lives in a military helicopter crash in Malatya province. The Defence Ministry has confirmed the deaths and the aircraft type. The cause remains unknown, and no investigative body has yet made public findings.
We will update our coverage if the Turkish Armed Forces or any investigating authority releases further information.
This article draws on reporting by hindustantimes and AP News.
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