A Turkish military helicopter has crashed in the north-east of the country, killing seven people and injuring the other eight on board. In the letter, Erdoğan expressed his sorrow for the casualties and injuries the crash caused and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
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The helicopter was carrying eight military personnel, including Gendarmerie Region Commander Brigadier Mustafa Doğru, one colonel, two majors, provincial gendarmerie post personnel, along with four military wives and three children.
Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli, who travelled to the area of the crash, later echoed Yildirim’s words in comments to reporters and ruled out the possibility that an attack could have been responsible. “None of our martyrs and injured had burn scars”, he added. “There are reports that there are injured and dead”, he said in Izmir, western Turkey.
Those aboard the chopper were traveling to nearby Eid al-Fitr celebrations when the helicopter crashed in the Tohumluk highlands at about 5.30 p.m. local time. The first day of the holiday traditionally sees people visit their families.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held phone talk with Gen. Hulusi Akar, chief of the general staff, in the wake of the crash.
