Coalition says two Saudi officers died in Najran crash

Coalition says two Saudi officers died in Najran helicopter crash

Two officers were killed when an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter belonging to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of National Guard crashed in the Najran region. The Saudi-led Arab coalition said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction, while the Houthis claimed they had shot down a different type of helicopter the previous day.

Scraper SystemOctober 19, 2026, 10:17 PM

Coalition says two Saudi officers died in Najran helicopter crash

The Saudi-led Arab coalition said two officers aboard a reconnaissance helicopter that crashed in the Najran region had been killed.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. Al-Maliki said the helicopter was an AH-6i aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of National Guard.

Al-Maliki said the two officers who died were part of the helicopter’s crew. He made the remarks in a statement on the crash.

Houthi statement differs from coalition assessment

The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis, meanwhile, claimed the previous day that they had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter near the city of Najran. The Houthi statement differed from the coalition’s assessment that the crash was caused by a technical malfunction and from its description of the helicopter’s type.

Regional repercussions of the war in Yemen

Yemen’s civil war has continued since the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces in September 2014.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government since March 2015. Clashes between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis have intensified in recent months, while the Houthis have also said they carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı

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