Helicopter Crash at Turkish Muğla Hospital Leaves Four Dead
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A Turkish Health Ministry ambulance helicopter, model H135, crashed while attempting to land on the rooftop helipad of Sıtkı Koçman Training and Research Hospital in the Menteşe district.
A total of 4 people, including 2 pilots, 1 doctor and 1 staff member on the helicopter, lost their lives, according to initial reports by Turkish media.
The accident occurred in the morning hours as the helicopter approached the hospital’s heliport for landing. For reasons yet to be determined, the aircraft failed to complete its descent successfully.
The twin-engine Airbus Helicopters H135, formerly known as EC135, collided with the hospital's upper floors before disintegrating and falling into the courtyard.
Emergency medical personnel stationed at the hospital were the first responders, providing immediate aid to those on board.
The Health Ministry operates a fleet of 14 ambulance helicopters stationed across Turkey. These aircraft, all Airbus H135 models, serve regions including Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Van, Diyarbakır, Antalya, Trabzon, Adana, Konya, Erzurum, Samsun, Kayseri, and Malatya.
The H135, designed by European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, is a twin-engine model capable of being piloted by a single operator. It has a seating capacity of up to seven passengers and can perform diverse roles, including medical evacuation and passenger transport.
The helicopter can reach speeds of up to 258 kilometers per hour and has a range of 635 kilometers. For medical missions, each flight includes two pilots and two healthcare personnel.