Seven dead after helicopter crash during training flight: Turkey ministry

The ministry said five soldiers from Qatar & Turkey, as well as two personnel from Turkish defence firm Aselsan were among those killed.

Five soldiers from Turkey and Qatar died in a helicopter crash in Ankara’s territorial waters during a training flight, the Turkish Defence Ministry said Sunday. The ministry said a technical issue caused the crash and added that Qatari authorities will conduct inspections to establish the cause.

The ministry said one Turkish soldier and two personnel from Turkish defence firm Aselsan were among those killed, along with four Qatari troops. The crash took place on Saturday, according to the statement. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Qatar had earlier released a list of the deceased when one person remained unaccounted for and search operations continued. Authorities have since confirmed the deaths of all those on board.

The list included Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, and Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed from the Qatar Armed Forces. Major (Air Defence) Sinan Taştekin from the Qatar–Turkey Joint Forces is also among the dead, according to Khaleej Times.

Two Turkish civilian collaborators, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas Can, also died in the crash. Authorities had earlier searched for Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Samekh of the Qatar Armed Forces, who now figures among the deceased.

This is a developing story. Further details are awaited. 

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Five soldiers from Turkey and Qatar died in a helicopter crash in Ankara’s territorial waters during a training flight, the Turkish Defence Ministry said Sunday. The ministry said a technical issue caused the crash and added that Qatari authorities will conduct inspections to establish the cause.

The ministry said one Turkish soldier and two personnel from Turkish defence firm Aselsan were among those killed, along with four Qatari troops. The crash took place on Saturday, according to the statement. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Qatar had earlier released a list of the deceased when one person remained unaccounted for and search operations continued. Authorities have since confirmed the deaths of all those on board.

The list included Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, and Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed from the Qatar Armed Forces. Major (Air Defence) Sinan Taştekin from the Qatar–Turkey Joint Forces is also among the dead, according to Khaleej Times.

Two Turkish civilian collaborators, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas Can, also died in the crash. Authorities had earlier searched for Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Samekh of the Qatar Armed Forces, who now figures among the deceased.

This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.