Accident | |
---|---|
Date | 12 January 2008 |
Summary | Weather-related crash |
Site | Blace, near Katlanovo, Macedonia [1] |
Aircraft type | Mil Mi-17 |
Operator | Army of the Republic of Macedonia |
Registration | VAM-304 |
Flight origin | Camp Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Destination | Skopje Airport |
Passengers | 8 |
Crew | 3 |
Fatalities | 11 |
Survivors | 0 |
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]
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]
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]
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]
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | 12 January 2008 |
Summary | Weather-related crash |
Site | Blace, near Katlanovo, Macedonia [1] |
Aircraft type | Mil Mi-17 |
Operator | Army of the Republic of Macedonia |
Registration | VAM-304 |
Flight origin | Camp Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Destination | Skopje Airport |
Passengers | 8 |
Crew | 3 |
Fatalities | 11 |
Survivors | 0 |
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]
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]
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]
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]