A military helicopter belonging to the Qatar Armed Forces crashed in the country’s territorial waters on the night of March 21, resulting in the deaths of six people on board.
According to initial reports, the accident was caused by a technical failure.
Among the victims were three Turkish citizens — two of them members of the defense company ASELSAN and one a member of the Turkish Armed Forces — as well as Qatari military personnel and technicians involved in the operation.
According to Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense, the helicopter was taking part in training activities under the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Forces Command, a result of military cooperation between the two countries, which continues under existing bilateral agreements.
Immediately after the crash, search and rescue teams were deployed, locating the wreckage of the aircraft and the victims’ bodies. Qatari authorities later confirmed the death of Captain (pilot) Saeed Nasser Smeikh, a member of the Qatar Armed Forces.
According to official statements, the exact cause of the crash will be determined after the completion of investigations conducted by Qatari authorities.
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Source: T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı – @tcsavunma / @MOD_Qatar. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
