Doha, March 22 — Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said specialized teams are conducting search and rescue operations in the country’s territorial waters after a helicopter crash early Sunday, initially reported by the Ministry of Defence. Authorities have launched a coordinated response to locate survivors and assess the situation, deploying multiple units trained for maritime emergencies.
An Interior Ministry post on X confirmed the operation and said several agencies are working together to carry out the mission. The Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security is leading the effort, supported by the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group from the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). Both units have experience handling complex rescue tasks in difficult sea conditions.
Officials have not released the number of people aboard the helicopter or a cause for the crash, saying the immediate focus is on rescue and recovery. Surveillance assets, rescue vessels and trained personnel have been dispatched across the designated search area to maximise the chance of finding survivors. Conditions at sea and the weather are being monitored closely because they affect both the pace and safety of operations.
The response remains active and under continuous assessment, and authorities said they will provide updates as verified information becomes available. Officials reiterated their commitment to using all available resources to conduct the search efficiently and safely.
