Air ambulances rush 10-year-old from Bitlis crash to Ankara hospital

A severe traffic accident in the Güroymak district of Bitlis left a 10‑year‑old child critically injured. Emergency 112 teams quickly transported the child to Bitlis‑Tatvan State Hospital, but doctors determined that multitrauma required immediate transfer to a higher‑level facility. The Ministry of Health deployed its air‑ambulance fleet: a helicopter based in Van was dispatched to the scene, and a fixed‑wing ambulance that took off from Istanbul was sent to evacuate the patient. The helicopter landed at Van Ferit Melen Airport, where the child was handed over to the plane and flown to Ankara Etlik City Hospital for specialized care. Officials described the operation as a “life corridor in the sky” aimed at providing the fastest possible treatment.

The coordinated response highlights the use of aerial medical assets in Turkey to overcome geographic challenges and reduce transport time for critical patients.