On November 12, 2026, a military S-70 helicopter experienced a crash landing in Samanköy Mahallesi, Yeşilyurt district of Malatya, Turkey. The impact caused a fire that quickly spread to a neighboring house. Emergency security forces and health teams were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the flames. The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that four military personnel died in the crash, noting that the cause remains unknown.
Political leaders swiftly offered condolences. AK Party Spokesman Ömer Çelik posted on social media: ‘Our grief is great… we pray for the heroes who became martyrs.’ TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated: ‘I learned with deep sorrow that four of our heroic soldiers became martyrs… We pray for the martyrs and their families, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the nation.’ CHP Party Spokesperson Müslim Sarı said: ‘I offer my condolences to our heroic soldiers who were martyred in the helicopter accident that occurred in Malatya. May the families of our soldiers, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our nation find comfort in peace.’ The Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi added: ‘We pray to Allah for mercy for the soldiers who became martyrs as a result of the crash of the S-70 military helicopter in Malatya, and we offer condolences to their loved ones and our noble nation.’
’ CHP Party Spokesperson Müslim Sarı said: ‘I offer my condolences to our heroic soldiers who were martyred in the helicopter accident that occurred in Malatya.