Military Helicopter Crashes in İstanbul, 4 Soldiers Lose Their Lives

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A military helicopter crashed into a four-storey building in the district of Sancaktepe in İstanbul today (November 26). While four soldiers have lost their lives in the incident, one soldier has been wounded.

Though the helicopter crashed in a residential area, no civilians have died or got wounded as the street was empty when the incident occured.

As of 1 p.m. today, the reason of the incident was still unknown.

Governor Ali Yerlikaya: No civilians injured

Governor of İstanbul made the following statement about the incident:

"A military helicopter of the Turkish Land Forces, which was making a training flight, crashed in Fırtına Street, Sarıgazi Neighborhood in the district of Sancaktepe at 11 a.m. today for reasons that have still been unknown.

"As a result of the accident, we have four martyrs and one wounded from our military personnel. There is no information regarding any civilians who got wounded in the incident."

Akar: Four soldiers have lost their lives

Minister of National Security Hulusi Akar also stated that the military helicopter took off at around 10.30 a.m. today and added:

"Our two commissioned, two non-commissioned soldiers and one specialized sergeant started their training activities in our helicopter which took off for military training purposes in the morning hours today.

"Unfortunately, at 11.02 a.m., the contact was lost with the helicopter. Afterwards, it was seen that the accident happened.

"Our two heroic commissioned and two con-commissioned soldiers have become martyrs. Our specialized sergeant has still been undergoing a surgical operation." (EKN/SD)

* Photographs: Alptekin Soykan - İstanbul / Anadolu Agency