At least five dead in Turkey helicopter crash

At least five people were killed after a military helicopter carrying several top officials crashed in Turkey on Tuesday. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that the aircraft had been carrying eight officers and their families, a total of 15 people, three of them children.

He added that there were some fatalities, but did not confirm the number of casualties.

"There are five or more people in hospital," said Yildirim, adding that "the cause appears to be adverse weather."

The prime minister also said that a lieutenant general, the highest-ranking officer on the helicopter, was not among the dead.

The aircraft crashed in the northeastern province of Giresun near the Black Sea after the officers had been visiting troops for the Eid al-Fitr celebration to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

es/kms (AP, AFP)