Turkish Military Helicopters Collide Midair, Killing 6 Military Personnel

Six Turkish military personnel were killed on Monday after two helicopters collided midair during a routine training exercise in the southwestern province of Isparta, officials said.

The crash involved two UH-1 helicopters conducting regular training flights. One helicopter went down after the collision, killing five soldiers at the scene, while a sixth died later at the hospital, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry. A brigadier general, who oversaw the military aviation school, was among the victims.

The second helicopter managed to land safely about 400 meters from the crash site, avoiding further casualties.

Regional governor Abdullah Erin confirmed an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the midair collision. Local reports from the private DHA news agency said the crashed helicopter broke apart upon impact, scattering debris across a field.