Turkish Armed Forces rule out terrorist attack in helicopter crash

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

 
Weather is to blame for a helicopter crash that killed 17 Turkish soldiers on Nov. 10, the Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement released today, ruling out the possibility that a militant attack brought the aircraft down.
 
The helicopter underwent all routine checks, and the pilots in charge were experienced officers, the army said.
 
The helicopter crashed due to weather conditions and not due to a terrorist attack, the statement said, adding that the exact cause would be revealed at the conclusion of the investigation.


Helicopter crash due to pilot error, interior minister says

The crash seems to have been caused by pilot error, Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin has said earlier on Nov.12.

“These military vehicles are all used for a specified period of time and no longer. We believe the cause of the crash is pilot error and climactic conditions. But the exact reason will be determined following the investigation,” Şahin was reported as saying by daily Hürriyet late yesterday while dismissing speculation that there were problems with the aircraft’s body.

A military ceremony for the 17 military personnel was held in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır yesterday.