Tragedy in Prešov
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- Date: 28.07.2015
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During its training flight, the SVK Armed Forces Mi-17 helicopter carrying a 3-member crew crashed near the village of Hradisko. One of the professional soldiers died, the other two were seriously injured and transported to hospitals. The helicopter took off at 1:30 pm from Prešov AFB. The crew were practicing landing in the field, when the control tower lost connection with them shortly after 2 pm. Straight after localizing the accident, SAR helicopter flew to the spot.
The SVK Minister of Defence, Martin Glváč interrupted his vacation to visit the crash site. “We have taken necessary steps. The area has been secured, so that the experts from the Aviation Authority and the commission can continue in investigating the accident. Mi-17 helicopter flights were suspended immediately after the crash, excluding SAR helicopters,” stated the Minister. He expressed his sympathy to the family of the deceased pilot, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured soldiers. “I hope their state of health will soon improve. These are the most skilled pilots and a flight engineer, who have also participated in operations abroad,” added Martin Glváč.
“I know the whole crew personally. I used to fly with all of them, but I cannot guess what went wrong, there are plenty of possibilities,” added Brig Miroslav Korba, SVK AF Commander. From the accident site, the SVK Minister of Defence moved along to Košice hospital to enquire about the injured soldier’s health.
On 28 July, the Chief of the SVK General Staff, Lt Gen Milan Maxim set for a visit to the Slovak contingent of the UNFICYP mission on Cyprus, where he was welcomed by the Mission Troops Commander, Maj Gen Kristin Lund. Understandably, he discontinued his visit: “The helicopter crash in the eastern Slovakia was a tragedy, in which we lost one of our servicemen. I would like to offer my condolence to the family of the deceased pilot and to wish a speedy recovery to the other two crew members,” stated Lt Gen Milan Maxim. “The incident happened during a period of higher training intensity triggered by dynamically changing security situation. This again demonstrates that the occupation of a soldier pertains to the most hazardous ones.”
The SVK Minister of Defence, Martin Glváč interrupted his vacation to visit the crash site. “We have taken necessary steps. The area has been secured, so that the experts from the Aviation Authority and the commission can continue in investigating the accident. Mi-17 helicopter flights were suspended immediately after the crash, excluding SAR helicopters,” stated the Minister. He expressed his sympathy to the family of the deceased pilot, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured soldiers. “I hope their state of health will soon improve. These are the most skilled pilots and a flight engineer, who have also participated in operations abroad,” added Martin Glváč.
“I know the whole crew personally. I used to fly with all of them, but I cannot guess what went wrong, there are plenty of possibilities,” added Brig Miroslav Korba, SVK AF Commander. From the accident site, the SVK Minister of Defence moved along to Košice hospital to enquire about the injured soldier’s health.
On 28 July, the Chief of the SVK General Staff, Lt Gen Milan Maxim set for a visit to the Slovak contingent of the UNFICYP mission on Cyprus, where he was welcomed by the Mission Troops Commander, Maj Gen Kristin Lund. Understandably, he discontinued his visit: “The helicopter crash in the eastern Slovakia was a tragedy, in which we lost one of our servicemen. I would like to offer my condolence to the family of the deceased pilot and to wish a speedy recovery to the other two crew members,” stated Lt Gen Milan Maxim. “The incident happened during a period of higher training intensity triggered by dynamically changing security situation. This again demonstrates that the occupation of a soldier pertains to the most hazardous ones.”
