UPDATE 2 - Turkey: 7 martyred in reconnaissance plane crash

UPDATES WITH NAMES OF MARTYRED POLICE OFFICERS

By Cemal Asan and Orhan Onur Gemici

VAN / ANKARA, Turkey (AA) – Seven police officers were martyred after their reconnaissance plane crashed in a mountain in eastern Turkey, the country’s interior minister said early Thursday.

“Our teams have informed us that we have lost seven heroes, two of them are the pilots,” Suleyman Soylu told reporters in the Van province.

The plane crashed at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7218 feet) on Mount Artos, Soylu added.

The aircraft took off from Van Ferit Melen Airport at 6.35 p.m. local time (1535GMT).

The 2015 model-plane was missioned for reconnaissance and surveillance in Van and Hakkari provinces since Monday, said Soylu.

He said the pilots contacted the tower for the last time when they were around the Baskale district at 10.32 p.m. (1932GMT).

At around 10.45 p.m. (1945GMT), radar and communication were completely lost, he added.

Soylu later arrived in the region where the plane crashed.

According to the General Directorate of Security, the names of the martyrs are as follows:

Police superintendent Gokhun Mete Altunbas, sub-inspector Samet Ustuner, sub-inspector Irfan Aydogan, sub-inspector Semih Guzelay, police officer Mustafa Keskin, police officer Onur Ramazan Bayram and police officer Burak Derya.

Altunbas and Ustuner were the pilots of the plane, while Keskin was the flight technician.