Malatya, Türkiye: Four Turkish military personnel were killed after an S-70 military helicopter crashed in Malatya, eastern Türkiye, on 12 November 2026. The country’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed the fatalities, stating that the cause of the accident had not yet been determined.
The four personnel were identified as Erdem Çimen and Orhun Pınar, both army pilots, and Hüseyin Zehir and Serkan Önder, who served as aircraft and helicopter technicians. Their names and photographs were released by Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence in an official tribute following the crash.
The incident occurred in the Samanköy area of Yeşilyurt district. Following the crash, ambulances, firefighters and medical teams were dispatched to the area. The ministry confirmed that the wreckage had been located and search and rescue operations had begun.
The aircraft involved was identified as an S-70-type helicopter. Developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, the S-70 belongs to a family of multi-mission utility helicopters based on the Black Hawk design. Aircraft in the family are used for various military and support roles, including troop and cargo transport, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.
The S-70 family has been developed for different operational requirements and is used by military operators in several countries. Its configurations and capabilities vary depending on the variant and the requirements of the operating force.
The ministry has not released further technical details about the aircraft or the circumstances surrounding the crash. It has also not announced any findings regarding the cause of the accident.
