DOHA: Qatar has reported a tragic incident involving a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, including a serviceman.
The interior ministry of Qatar stated on Sunday that rescue operations have been completed, confirming that a total of seven individuals lost their lives in the accident.
“All those aboard the helicopter have been found, and it has been confirmed that they are deceased,” the statement read. The victims have been identified as Captain Mubarak Salem Daway al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem al-Khayarin, Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed, and Captain Saeed Nasser Sameekh, all from the Qatari armed forces.
Additionally, the defence ministry named Major Sinan Tastekin from the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces, along with two Turkish civilians, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas, as casualties of the crash.
This incident marks the first fatalities for both Qatar and Turkey since increased tensions arose in the region following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which led to Iran launching a retaliatory air campaign against its Gulf neighbors.
The Turkish defence ministry reported that the helicopter was engaged in a training exercise under the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces Command when it went down into the sea. They confirmed the death of a Turkish armed forces member and two technicians from Aselsan, a prominent Turkish defense company.
The Qatari defence ministry indicated that the helicopter crashed due to a “technical malfunction” during a routine flight.
