Four Turkish military personnel were killed when an S-70-type helicopter crashed in the country’s eastern province of Malatya, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry did not provide details about the aircraft’s mission or the number of personnel on board. There was no immediate official information on casualties or on the causes of the crash.
“As a result of an accident involving our S-70 helicopter in Malatya, for a reason not yet determined, four of our heroic comrades-in-arms aboard the helicopter were martyred,” the ministry said in a statement, extending condolences to the families of the soldiers.
The helicopter went down in the Samankoy neighborhood of Malatya’s Yesilyurt district around 6:45 PM local time, according to reports by local media. A fire reportedly broke out at the crash site and spread to a nearby house.
Video footage circulating online shows the helicopter’s burning wreckage near a cluster of buildings in an otherwise open area.
The S-70 belongs to the Black Hawk family of military utility helicopters manufactured by US defense manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Variants of the aircraft are operated by armed forces in several countries. The Black Hawk is able to carry up to 11 soldiers plus its air crew.
The Turkish Air Force operates a large base – the 7th Main Jet Base – to the north of Malatya.