13.11.2026 07:20
As a result of an S-70 type military helicopter crash in Malatya, 4 of our soldiers were martyred. Experts assessing the cause of the crash stated that weather conditions did not appear to be effective and drew attention to the possibilities of a technical malfunction and hitting power lines. The exact cause of the crash will become clear after the investigations being conducted.
The helicopter crash that occurred yesterday evening in Samanköy Neighborhood of the Yeşilyurt district of Malatya plunged Turkey into mourning. The S-70 Sikorsky-type military helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff for a reason not yet determined.
A fire broke out in the area where the helicopter crashed, and the flames spread to a nearby house. Following reports, numerous security forces, medical and firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene. With the teams' intervention, the fire was brought under control and extinguished. After the crash, the Ministry of National Defense announced that 4 soldiers on board the helicopter were martyred.
IDENTITIES OF OUR 4 MARTYRED SOLDIERS ANNOUNCED
In a statement by the Ministry of National Defense, the names of our soldiers who were martyred in the crash were shared with the public. The identities of our martyrs are as follows:
- Army Pilot Major Erdem Çimen
- Army Pilot Major Orhun Pınar
- Non-Commissioned Officer Senior First Sergeant Hüseyin Zehir
- Non-Commissioned Officer Senior Sergeant Serkan Önder
The Ministry emphasized that the cause of the crash had not yet been determined and made the following statement:
"As a result of our S-70 type helicopter crashing in Malatya for a reason not yet determined, 4 heroic comrades-in-arms on board the helicopter were martyred. We wish God's mercy upon our martyrs and offer our condolences and patience to their grieving families, the Turkish Armed Forces and our noble nation."
EXPERT EXPLAINED 2 POSSIBILITIES REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH
After the crash that plunged Turkey into mourning, attention turned to why the helicopter went down. Tolga İnan, Head of the Pilotage Department at Bahçeşehir University, who made assessments on the manner of the crash on CNN Türk live broadcast, focused on two possibilities.
Evaluating the weather conditions at the time of the crash, İnan stated that a meteorological problem did not come to the fore. Stating that the helicopter may have experienced a mechanical or technical malfunction during takeoff, İnan said that the possibility of hitting power lines should also be considered.
"EITHER TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION OR HITTING POWER LINES"
Speaking about the possible causes of the crash, İnan used the following statements:
"The most fundamental reason here can be considered either a mechanical and technical malfunction, or the helicopter losing control after hitting power lines. Low visibility, weather conditions and wind do not appear problematic. Either a technical-mechanical malfunction occurred at the moment of takeoff, or a collision with power lines occurred. We can say these as potential causes."
The expert's assessments brought forward the possibilities that the crash may have resulted from a technical problem or contact with an environmental obstacle. However, it was stated that neither possibility has yet been confirmed and that the exact cause of the crash will be determined as a result of official investigations.
"WHAT MATTERS IS NOT THAT THE HELICOPTER IS OLD, BUT THAT IT IS WELL MAINTAINED"
Also touching on the technical specifications of S-70 type helicopters, İnan emphasized that maintenance status, rather than age, is decisive in the safety of aircraft.
Stating that helicopters being over 30 years old does not by itself mean a safety problem, İnan said that aircraft that are regularly maintained can be used for many years.
İnan used the following statements: "So, even if they are over 30 years old, we always say for planes, helicopters, and basically aircraft, age is not important. Being well maintained is important. As long as it is well maintained, it can be used for 60-70 years."
Stating that aircraft used in military aviation can be older compared with those in civil aviation, İnan underlined that this does not mean the helicopters in question are unsafe.
WHY IS BEING TWIN-ENGINE IMPORTANT?
Explaining that the S-70 Black Hawk family is a widely used, medium-class, multi-purpose and twin-engine helicopter worldwide, İnan stated that these aircraft can be used in many missions such as personnel transport, logistics, external load transport and search and rescue.
Stating that the helicopter has a four-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor, İnan drew attention to the fact that its twin-engine structure is an important safety feature.
Emphasizing that the failure of one engine does not automatically mean the helicopter will crash, İnan explained that the power obtained from the engines is transmitted to the main rotor via the main gearbox and to the tail rotor via the transmission system.
He stated that mechanical or technical problems that may occur in these systems can affect flight safety.
BLACK BOX MAY REVEAL THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH
Stating that the helicopter's flight data may be of critical importance in shedding light on the crash, İnan pointed out that S-70 type helicopters may contain a black box.
Recalling that in the past work was carried out to install flight recording systems in Sikorsky helicopters, İnan emphasized that it cannot be said with certainty that there is a black box in the helicopter involved in the crash.
İnan described the investigation process with these words:
"First the wreckage is examined, after the wreckage is examined the cockpit and flight data records in the black box are analyzed, and finally the final report of the crash investigation board tells us the cause."
It is stated that the possibilities put forward regarding the cause of the crash cannot be transformed into a definite conclusion before the official investigation is completed.
MALATYA CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION
After the crash in which four of our soldiers were martyred, an investigation was launched by the Malatya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Within the scope of the investigation, a deputy chief public prosecutor and two public prosecutors were assigned. The examinations to be carried out to determine the manner of the crash and the factors causing the helicopter to go down will be decisive in shedding light on the incident.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BAYRAKTAROĞLU
Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu also issued a condolence message for our soldiers who were martyred in the crash.
In his message, Bayraktaroğlu said, "We wish God's mercy upon our heroic comrades-in-arms who were martyred on November 12, 2026, and offer our condolences to their families and relatives."He used the expressions "Our condolences to our nation."
WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE S-70 SIKORSKY HELICOPTER?
The S-70 Sikorsky that crashed in Malatya is a member of the twin-engine, medium-class and multi-purpose military helicopter family developed by the US-based Sikorsky Aircraft.
The S-70 family, which is based on the UH-60 Black Hawk platform developed in the late 1970s, was produced in various models according to the military needs of different countries.
Designed to be able to operate in challenging terrain and weather conditions, the helicopters can be used in military personnel transport, resupply, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and command and control activities.
Depending on their mission equipment, the helicopters, which are also used to transport fully equipped soldiers, have special models such as the S-70B Seahawk for naval forces.
The S-70 family, which is also in Turkey's inventory, is used by more than 30 countries worldwide. In Turkey, within the scope of the General Purpose Helicopter Project carried out under the main contracting of TUSAŞ, models equipped with domestic systems are being produced under the name T70.
The technical condition of the helicopter involved in the accident, its maintenance history, and the developments experienced during the flight are expected to become clear as a result of the official investigations being conducted.
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