Two Russian pilots sentenced 5 years over Denizli helicopter crash incident

Two Russian pilots have been sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in a 2022 firefighting helicopter crash in Türkiye‘s Denizli province that resulted in two fatalities.

Denizli’s 3rd High Criminal Court handed down the sentences on November 22, citing negligence in flight planning and fuel management as the primary causes of the crash.

Court details negligence leading to helicopter crash

The court determined that the pilots, Ilya Ivesenkho and Egor Turkov, failed to plan for an adequate fuel supply and did not make an intermediate landing for refueling during the flight. These oversights led to an emergency situation where one of the helicopter’s engines failed, causing the crash.

The verdict followed an investigation report that identified multiple operational errors, including improper fuel calculations and delays in initiating emergency procedures.

The technical staff member Omer Kaan Cakir, also on trial, was acquitted of all charges.

Background: The 2022 Denizli helicopter crash

On September 21, 2022, a firefighting helicopter en route from Kastamonu to assist with a wildfire in Marmaris crashed near Denizli’s Cardak district.

The crash claimed the lives of Russian crew members Aleksandr Iakovlev and Alexey Volkov. Four other individuals, including two Turkish technical personnel and two Russian crew members, sustained injuries.

Legal implications and sentencing

The court applied Turkish Penal Code articles on negligent manslaughter and endangerment, issuing the five-year sentences for the Russian pilots.