Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
The Gulf state’s interior ministry said on Sunday that rescue operations had been completed.
“All those who were on board have been found, numbering seven, and their martyrdom has been confirmed,” the ministry said in a statement.
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered condolences.
“I learned with great sorrow the news that our Turkish Armed Forces personnel, our ASELSAN staff and members of the Qatari Armed Forces were martyred in the helicopter crash that occurred in Qatar,” he said. "My condolences to our country, our nation and the people of Qatar.”
The three Turkish nationals killed were Major Sinan Tastekin, who was serving with the Qatar–Türkiye Joint Forces, and two civilians, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas, who were technicians with the defence company ASELSAN.
Qatar’s defence ministry identified the Qatari victims as Captain Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed and Captain Saeed Nasser Sameekh.
According to both Qatari and Turkish officials, the helicopter was carrying out a training exercise as part of joint military operations when it crashed into the sea on Friday evening. Türkiye’s defence ministry added that military cooperation between the two countries would continue as planned.
Initial findings suggest the crash was caused by a technical malfunction during what was described as a routine flight. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause.
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