Two Killed in Saudi Combat Helicopter Crash Near Yemen Border

Two Saudi aircrew members were killed on Sunday when a light AH-6i military helicopter crashed in the Najran region of southern Saudi Arabia, near the border with Yemen. According to a statement issued by the Saudi-led military coalition, the accident was caused by a technical malfunction while the aircraft was operating in the area.

Coalition spokesman General Turki al-Maliki confirmed the crash and reported that both crew members aboard the helicopter had been killed. According to Reuters, the helicopter was operating in a highly sensitive security area due to its proximity to the Yemeni border. During the mission, the aircraft began losing altitude before striking the ground and crashing. No further details have been released regarding the sequence of events leading up to the accident or the precise circumstances that caused the helicopter to lose altitude.

In his statement, al-Maliki also addressed the location of the crash, clarifying that "the helicopter crashed in an area under the jurisdiction of the Saudi Ministry of National Guard." The site is located in the kingdom's southern region, where National Guard forces operate.

The aircraft involved was an American-made light helicopter used by the Saudi National Guard for reconnaissance and light attack missions. Following the crash, a technical investigation was launched to determine the cause of the malfunction that led to the accident.