Wed, Dec 11, 2024
UH-1H Military Helicopter Splits in Two During Training Exercise Accident
Two Turkish military Bell UH-1H Iroquois (“Huey”) helicopters collided mid-air during a routine training session. One came apart on impact, killing six personnel, while the other was able to land safely.
The pair of Hueys were on a training flight from the Turkish School of Army Aviation in Isparta, a city in western Turkey. It is believed that they had a rotor collision, causing one to lose control and come apart near a fuel station in the southwestern province of Isparta. The other UH-1H managed to make a safe landing around 400 meters away from the crash site.
Originally, officials reported that only four of the six servicemembers on board the aircraft had not survived. Five deaths were later confirmed, with the last being transported to a hospital before succumbing to their injuries. The region’s governor confirmed that Brigadier General ?sa Baydilli, who was in charge of the flight school, along with two lieutenants and two sergeants were among the victims.
Turkish military personnel were able to locate and retrieve the bodies from the wreckage. The other helicopter’s two-person crew is stable and receiving medical treatment.
The reason behind the helicopters coming into contact remains unknown. Governor Abdullah Erin has confirmed that an investigation has been opened.
Unfortunately for the nation’s Air Force, the active Turkish UH-1H fleet size is getting painfully small. In 2020, Turkey had 15 Hueys left in service. It is estimated to have 13 left as of 2024, on top of around 20 Eurocopter AS532 Cougars and 3 Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawks. It also has an order out for four TAI T625 Gokbeys.
The Bell UH-1 has been a vastly popular and mass-produced helicopter design since the 1960s, eventually being used in more than 60 countries. The UH-1H model was the most widely chosen Huey variant with over 5,400 units distributed. However, the aging chopper is starting to be replaced by modernized machines, like the Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf.
More News
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Collided With An Unregistered DJI Mavic 3T Unmanned Aerial Vehicle On July 7, 2025, about 1557 central daylight time, an unregistered Sikorsky >[...]
“After considering the measures taken, minimum liquidity covenants in the Company's current debt obligations and cash flows to maintain current operational obligations requir>[...]
Ground Clutter A pattern produced on the radar scope by ground returns which may degrade other radar returns in the affected area. The effect of ground clutter is minimized by the >[...]
Aero Linx: Warbirds of America The EAA Warbirds of America, a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a family of owners, pilots and enthusiasts>[...]
Also: Louisville UPS Crash Aftermath, Taiwan Boosts Pilot Pool, Spartan Acquires, DON’T MISS the MOSAIC Town Hall! This three-day Affordable Flying Expo brings together indoo>[...]
NTSB Prelim: Sikorsky UH60 Sikorsky UH-60
See All