DOHA, March 22, (V7N)– Qatar confirmed on Sunday that seven people were killed when a military helicopter crashed in its territorial waters during a training exercise.  

The Interior Ministry said rescue operations had been completed and all those on board were found dead. “All those who were on board have been found, numbering seven, and their martyrdom has been confirmed,” the statement read.  

The Qatari Defence Ministry named the four Qatari servicemen killed:  

Captain Mubarak Salem Daway al-Marri  

Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem al-Khayarin  

Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed  

 Captain Saeed Nasser Sameekh  

It also identified three Turkish nationals:  

- Major Sinan Tastekin of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces  

- Two Turkish civilians, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas, both technicians from Turkish defence company Aselsan.  

The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed the deaths, stating: “A Qatari armed forces helicopter, which was carrying out a training exercise as part of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces Command, crashed into the sea. A member of the Turkish armed forces and two Aselsan technicians were killed.”  

Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the helicopter went down due to a technical malfunction during a routine flight.  

These fatalities are the first recorded for both Qatar and Turkey since the escalation of regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, and Iran’s retaliatory air campaign against Gulf neighbours.  

END/WD/RH/