13 dead in Turkish military helicopter crash

A Turkish military helicopter crashed three minutes after takeoff on Wednesday evening, killing 13 personnel, Deutsche Welle reports, citing the Turkish military.

The AS 532 Cougar type helicopter hit a high-voltage power line after taking off from a base east of Sirnak, near the border with Iraq.

CNN Turk reported several of those killed were officers, including a major general in charge of a border division.

Turkey’s defense minister, as well as other officials travelled to the region, reports Al Jazeera.