ISTANBUL (AP) – A helicopter crashed on a highway in the outskirts of Istanbul on Friday after apparently hitting a television tower in dense fog, reports said. At least five people were killed, the governor said.
The Sikorsky S-76, belonging to the Eczacibasi group of companies, was carrying seven people – the company’s four Russian guests, a Turkish official and two pilots.
Gov. Vasip Sahin said that the helicopter crashed in Istanbul’s Buyukcekmece district after taking off from Ataturk Airport, adding that the cause of the crash was under investigation. There was no immediate information on the fate of the two others reported to be on board.
Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the crash site in video shown on Turkish network DHA. Burning debris was scattered across a large stretch of the highway.
Video from a security camera of a gas station showed the helicopter plunging behind a hill, followed by a ball of fire rising to the sky that quickly turns into black smoke.