Turkish Military Helicopter Crashes in Malatya, Killing Four Soldiers
Turkish Military Helicopter Crashes in Malatya, Killing Four Soldiers
Four Turkish soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in the eastern province of Malatya on Thursday evening, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence said. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigators have opened a formal inquiry.
The S-70 helicopter went down at around 6:45 p.m. local time in the Samankoy neighbourhood of Yesilyurt district, on the southern outskirts of the provincial capital, according to the ministry and Turkish media reports. All four service members on board were killed.
The ministry confirmed the deaths in a statement, describing the victims as “our four heroic comrades-in-arms” and saying the helicopter had crashed “for a reason not yet determined.” Rescue teams reached the wreckage and began search and rescue operations shortly after the crash.
The four soldiers
The four personnel killed were identified as Major Erdem Cimen and Major Orhun Pinar, both army pilots, and Sergeant Major Huseyin Zehir and Sergeant Serkan Onder, who served as aircraft and helicopter technicians.
Their bodies were transferred to Ankara after a closed ceremony at Malatya Airport, according to Turkish media reports.
The crash ignited a fire that spread to a nearby house, the Demiroren News Agency reported. Fire services, emergency health teams, disaster agency AFAD personnel and security forces extinguished the blaze. No civilians on the ground were reported injured.
Investigation under way
The Malatya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a judicial investigation into the crash. Military flight-safety and accident investigation teams are also examining the wreckage, and the provincial governor, Seddar Yavuz, was involved in coordinating the response.
The Defence Ministry has not disclosed which service operated the helicopter, what mission it was flying, or any technical details about the flight. No further information about the cause has been released.
The S-70 is Sikorsky’s designation for the Black Hawk family of twin-engine military utility helicopters, widely used for transport and operational support. The Turkish-built version is designated the T70, produced under a programme to build 109 helicopters for six military and civilian operators.
Why this matters
Military helicopter crashes are rare but serious events in Turkey, where the armed forces operate a large fleet of transport helicopters across a country that stretches from the Aegean coast to the borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran. Malatya, in the east of the country, hosts the Turkish Air Force’s 7th Main Jet Base and sits in a region of rugged, mountainous terrain.
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The crash comes at a busy moment for Turkey’s military and defence diplomacy. Turkey and Qatar signed a mutual defence agreement in Istanbul earlier this week, and Ankara has been expanding its defence partnerships across the region. The accident is unrelated to those agreements, but it is a reminder of the risks faced by military personnel in routine operations.
Investigators will now focus on whether a mechanical failure, weather, or another factor brought the aircraft down. Until their findings are released, the Defence Ministry has said only that the cause remains undetermined.
The incident follows a violent week in the wider region, in which a Moscow car bomb wounded a former aide to a pro-Russian ex-Ukrainian prime minister. That attack, however, is a separate event from the Malatya crash, which officials have described as an accident.
Latest developments
As of Friday morning, Turkish officials had released no update on the cause of the crash. The investigation by prosecutors and military accident teams is continuing, and the Defence Ministry is expected to release further details once the initial examination of the wreckage is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Malatya?
A Turkish military S-70 helicopter crashed in the Samankoy neighbourhood of Yesilyurt district in Malatya province, eastern Turkey, at around 6:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, November 12, 2026. All four soldiers on board were killed.
Who were the four soldiers killed?
The victims were Major Erdem Cimen and Major Orhun Pinar, both army pilots, and Sergeant Major Huseyin Zehir and Sergeant Serkan Onder, aircraft and helicopter technicians.
What caused the helicopter crash?
The cause has not yet been determined. Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence said the helicopter crashed “for a reason not yet determined,” and both prosecutors and military flight-safety teams are investigating.
Were any civilians hurt?
No. The crash started a fire that spread to a nearby house, but emergency crews extinguished it and no ground casualties were reported.
What happens next
The Malatya prosecutor’s investigation and the military’s flight-safety inquiry will determine what caused the S-70 to come down. Turkish officials are expected to release the findings once the wreckage examination is complete, and the armed forces will review whether any safety changes are needed for the helicopter fleet.
Sources: Turkish Minute; The Aviation Hub; Aviation Today; EuropeSays.
