9 killed, 4 injured as military helicopter crashes in Turkey

At least nine Turkish soldiers were killed and four others were injured in a military helicopter crash, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Thursday.

In a statement, the ministry said the AS532 Cougar helicopter took off from the eastern province of Bingöl at 1:55 p.m. and was en route to Bitlis province’s Tatvan district when contact with the aircraft was lost at around 2:25 p.m.

“A search and rescue party consisting of a UAV, a CN-235 airplane and a helicopter was dispatched immediately,” the statement raid.

Nine soldiers on board the helicopter were killed in the crash, the ministry said, adding that four survivors were being transferred to hospital for treatment. Commander of the 8th Corps, Lt. Gen. Osman Erbaş was among those who perished.

“We wish God's mercy upon those who lost their lives in this deeply saddening accident, convey our sympathies to their families, friends and our nation, and wish for speedy recovery to the wounded,” the statement read.

Following the news of the accident, condolences began to pour in from prominent figures in Turkish politics. Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, as well as almost all ministers expressed their grief over the accident.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara also offered its condolences.

"The Embassy of the United States offers its sincere condolences for the Turkish soldiers killed and wounded in the tragic helicopter crash in Bitlis. Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected, and we wish a rapid recovery to the injured," it wrote on Twitter.