2 pilots martyred in police helicopter crash in Gaziantep

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced in a statement on his social media account that a police helicopter had crashed in Gaziantep.

Two pilots were martyred and one technician was injured in the accident.

Minister Yerlikaya used the following expressions in his statement:

"May our nation find strength. Our helicopter with tail number EM 708, registered to the inventory of the General Directorate of Security Aviation Department, which took off from Hatay Airport to go to Gaziantep Airport this evening, crashed near Kartal Village in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep.

Our two pilots on board the helicopter, which was last contacted by the Combined Air Operations Center at 22:49, have been martyred, and our technician has been injured.

I wish for God's mercy upon our heroic pilots, and I extend my condolences to their families, our noble nation, and our Police Organization.

May the rank of our martyrs be high.

I wish a speedy recovery to our injured police officer."

MINISTER KOCA SHARED CONDOLENCES FOR THE MARTYRED PILOTS

Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca shared a message of condolence following the martyrdom of 2 pilots as a result of the helicopter crash in Gaziantep.

In his post on his social media account, Koca stated, “A helicopter belonging to our General Directorate of Security, which took off from Hatay Airport to go to Gaziantep Airport, had an accident near Kartal Village in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep.

2 of our pilots were martyred, and our technician was injured.

I wish for God's mercy upon our martyred pilots, and I extend my condolences to our nation and our Police Organization. May the place of our martyrs be heaven.

I wish a speedy recovery to our injured police officer who has been taken under treatment,” he said.