2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crash

2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mi-17 crash
A Macedonian Air Force Mil Mi-17 identical to the one involved in the incident.
Accident
Date12 January 2008 (2008-01-12)
SummaryWeather-related crash
SiteBlace, near Katlanovo, Macedonia[1]
Aircraft typeMil Mi-17
OperatorArmy of the Republic of Macedonia
RegistrationVAM-304
Flight originCamp Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
DestinationSkopje Airport
Passengers8
Crew3
Fatalities11
Survivors0

The 2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crash occurred on Saturday, 12 January 2008, when a Mil Mi-17 transport helicopter belonging to the Macedonian military, crashed 50–100 metres[2][3] from the village of Blace, situated in the region of Katlanovo,[4] approximately 10–15 kilometres south-east of Skopje, Macedonia[5] due to low visibility caused by heavy fog. All 11 individuals aboard the helicopter, including 8 passengers and 3 crew members, were killed in the crash.[6]

Incident

The incident took place at approximately 11:00 a.m. (GMT). The helicopter was returning from a EUFOR peace keeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and started to experience foggy conditions[7] whilst preparing to land at their destination – The Skopje Airport.[3] The crash was reported by two local fishermen who claimed they saw the helicopter flying unusually low. A witness stated that "The engine of the helicopter did not sound like it worked well..."[3] Witnesses also reported seeing a "fireball" as the helicopter became engulfed in flames following impact.[5] This was subsequently followed by a series of explosions, possibly triggered by a supply of kerosene or ammunition.[3]

Based on a Reuters photographer's eye-witness account, the helicopter was incinerated and debris was found up to 100 metres from the crash site.[8]

Reactions

Upon arriving at the scene of the event, the Macedonian prime minister, Nikola Gruevski, said; "This is a terrible accident, a great tragedy and a great loss. I express my deepest and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims. An investigation is starting that will identify the cause of the accident."[3][5][7]

The Macedonian president, Branko Crvenkovski, also expressed his sympathy for the lives lost, stating: "We have not seen such a tragic lost [sic] of Macedonian soldiers in the country's recent history..."[9] The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Macedonia confirmed that the incident is the deadliest aviation accident to occur within the country's air force.[10]

Along with the president and prime minister, the Interior Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Gordana Jankulovska, also visited the crash site immediately following the incident.[10]

Aftermath

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, only seven soldiers were fully identified.[11] After the identification of all victims involved in the crash, it was reported that a total of eleven military personnel between the ages of 26 and 40 had been killed in the crash.[9]

Following the incident, the Macedonian government created a special body to lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.[9]

References

  1. ^ http://www.vlada.mk/files/Konecen_Izvestaj_na_komisijata_za_helikopterskata_nesrekja.pdf Archived 20 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine место на несреќата: Село Блаце, близу Катланово"
  2. ^ Macedonia military chopper crashes, no survivors ABC News. Sunday, 13 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 soldiers by Goran Trajkov. Southeast European Times. 14 January 2008.
  4. ^ 11 ARM soldiers die in copter crash near Katlanovo Macedonian Information Agency.
  5. ^ a b c Macedonia crash kills 11 soldiers BBC. Saturday, 12 January 2008.
  6. ^ Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 by Ognen Teofilovski. The Age. 13 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b Macedonian Army Helicopter Crash Kills 11 Fox News Channel. Saturday, 12 January 2008.
  8. ^ Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today. Reuters. The West Australian. 13 January 2008.
  9. ^ a b c 11 Helicopter Crash Victims Buried in Macedonia Novinite. 16 January 2008.
  10. ^ a b Macedonian army helicopter crashes, 11 killed. The Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. 12 January 2008.
  11. ^ Macedonian military helicopter crash kills 11 Reuters. 12 January 2008.

External links

  • Official website of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia Archived 18 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine (in Macedonian)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2008_Macedonian_Armed_Forces_Mil_Mi-17_crash&oldid=1163047681"