ISPARTA, Turkey — Two Turkish military helicopters collided in midair during a training exercise on Monday, causing one to crash and killing six military personnel, including a brigadier general, officials said.
The second helicopter managed to land safely about 400 meters (437 yards) away from the crash site, the Defense Ministry confirmed. Five of the victims died at the scene, while a sixth succumbed to injuries in a hospital.
The collision occurred in the southwestern province of Isparta during routine training flights, according to the region’s governor, Abdullah Erin. Among the dead was the head of the military aviation school, Governor Erin said.
The cause of the collision remains unclear, and an investigation has been launched, Erin added.
The UH-1 utility helicopter, which crashed into a field, was reportedly split in two, according to the private DHA news agency.
