4 Turkey soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Istanbul

Four Turkish soldiers were killed and another was wounded today after a military helicopter crashed in a central district of Istanbul, the city’s governor was quoted as saying.

The helicopter was carrying out training flights at the Samandira air base in Istanbul and the reason for its crash has not yet been determined, the state-owned Anadolu Agency cited governor Ali Yerlikaya as saying.

“Treatment for the wounded and an inspection into the cause of the incident has been started. Efforts at the crash site are underway,” Yerlikaya said.

Footage showed the helicopter had crashed in the middle of a residential area in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city. Debris from the crash had scattered across the street, the footage showed.

Medical and emergency teams were dispatched to the area, Anadolu said. It said Defence Minister Hulusi Akar would go to the crash site to hold inspections.

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