BITLIS — 2021 · Major Tragedy

Tatvan Military Helicopter Crash

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 4 March 2021, a Cougar military helicopter belonging to the Land Forces Command crashed in the countryside of Tatvan district, Bitlis. The helicopter had taken off from Bingöl at 13:55, and contact was lost at 14:25. Eleven soldiers were killed in the crash, among them Lieutenant General Osman Erbaş, commander of the 8th Corps, and two soldiers were rescued injured. Reaching the wreckage was difficult because of the snowy, mountainous terrain. In its initial statement, the Ministry of National Defence said the crash was assessed to have been caused by a sudden change in the weather, and an investigation was launched. Official ceremonies were held for those who died. The crash is recorded as one of the deadliest helicopter accidents in the Turkish Armed Forces in recent years.

Date: 2021
Place: Tatvan, Bitlis
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 38.4500, 42.3000 ↗

Timeline of Events

4 March 2021, 13:55The Cougar helicopter takes off from Bingöl
4 March 2021, 14:25Contact with the helicopter is lost

4 March 2021The wreckage is reached; 11 dead and 2 injured
5 March 2021The defence ministry cites a sudden weather change

Sources

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