Police helicopter believed crashed in eastern Turkey

By Haydar Toprakci

TUNCELI, Turkey

After disappearing from radar, a police helicopter with 12 people on board is believed to have crashed in eastern Turkey, the provincial governor’s office said Tuesday.

"The helicopter is believed to have crashed due to bad weather conditions," the Tunceli Governorship said in a statement.

The Sikorsky-type helicopter carrying seven police officers, one judge, and one army sergeant along with three crew members lost communications 10 minutes after taking off, the official statement said.

Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the area.