2006 Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crash

Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crash

Company type	Aviation accident
Industry	Military aviation
Founded	October 31, 1969 (1969-10-31) (aircraft production date)
Fate	Crashed on 19 January 2006
Headquarters	Slovakia / Hungary
Products	Antonov An-24V aircraft (involved)

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On 19 January 2006, a Slovak Air Force-operated Antonov An-24 aircraft crashed in northern Hungary, close to the village of Hejce and near the town of Telkibánya. The flight was transporting Slovak peacekeeping personnel returning from Kosovo. Out of the 43 individuals on board, only a single person survived. This incident represents the deadliest aviation disaster in both Hungarian and Slovak history.

Background

The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-24V model, a twin turboprop transport plane configured to seat 50 passengers. It was produced on 31 October 1969 in the former Soviet Union and bore the serial number 97305605.

The flight was carrying Slovak peacekeepers who had completed a six-month deployment as part of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission. The route was from Pristina International Airport in Kosovo’s capital to Košice International Airport in eastern Slovakia.

Crash

At approximately 19:38 CET (18:38 GMT), the aircraft vanished from the radar screens monitored by air traffic controllers. The plane went down in a snowy, forest-covered area on Borsó Hill, situated at an altitude of 700 meters (2,300 feet) close to the Hungarian villages of Hejce and Telkibánya. The location of the crash lies roughly 20 km (12 mi) from Košice and about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the border with Slovakia.

According to the Hungarian Disaster Management Agency, the aircraft struck tree tops before igniting and crashing. Tibor Dobson from the disaster prevention division of Hungary’s Ministry of the Interior indicated that debris and bodies were dispersed over a wide area. Hungarian police spokesperson László Garamvölgyi reported that temperatures at the crash site were around −18 °C (0 °F), and that the fuselage had been completely consumed by fire.

Emergency response

Responders arriving at the scene faced dual challenges: searching for any survivors and extinguishing the blaze resulting from the crash. Hungarian officials noted that the steep, densely forested terrain combined with freezing temperatures impeded rescue operations. Additionally, helicopters were unable to land directly at the crash site due to these conditions. Snow-covered roads further limited access to the area.

Michaela Farkasova, spouse of Martin Farkaš—the only survivor—stated she received a phone call from him around 19:30 CET (18:30 GMT). During this call, he informed her that their plane had crashed in a forested region and urged her to notify emergency services before the connection was lost.

Sole survivor

The only individual to survive was First Lieutenant Martin Farkaš of the Slovak Army. He sustained minor brain swelling along with lung injuries in the accident and was subsequently transported to Košice for medical care. Initially placed in a medically induced coma, his condition was later described as stable.

Rescue personnel attributed his survival largely to chance, as he was discovered inside the aircraft’s lavatory, an area that suffered minimal damage during the crash.

Reactions and aftermath

On 30 January, Rodolphe Vallee, U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia, issued a message extending condolences to the victims’ families, friends, the Slovak Armed Forces, and the nation of Slovakia. Similarly, hours after the tragedy, Secretary General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer released a statement expressing his sympathies.

Memorials

Following the accident, flags were immediately lowered to half-staff and sirens were activated to honor those who lost their lives.

On 30 March 2006, United States Army Major General R. Martin Umbarger, Commanding General of the Indiana Army National Guard, presented a commemorative tribute to Slovak Army Major General Peter Gajdoš during a ceremony held at the Slovak Ministry of Defense in Bratislava. Prior to this, on 27 March, the memorial was taken to Prešov and then on 29 March to Trebišov, before returning to Bratislava.

The Slovak government allocated 1.5 million koruna from its reserve funds on 18 September 2006 for constructing a memorial near the crash location in the Hungarian village of Hejce. The Defence Ministry successfully raised approximately 1.496 million koruna through public fundraising efforts. Additionally, the Slovak Cabinet pledged to match these donations with an equivalent sum of 1.5 million koruna. The total cost of the monument was about 4.5 million koruna.

On 19 January 2007, marking the first anniversary of the tragedy, family members of the victims, including Martin Farkaš and his spouse, alongside representatives from both Slovak and Hungarian armed forces, gathered to pay their respects. Attendees comprised Slovak Defence Minister František Kašický, Slovak Army Chief of Staff Ľubomír Bulík, Hungarian Defence State Secretary József Bali, and Hungarian Deputy Army Chief of Staff János Mikita. Wreaths and flowers were laid, and candles were lit at the crash site. During this ceremony, clergy from Slovakia and Hungary blessed the foundation stone for a memorial that would be erected near a church in Hejce.

In commemoration of the tenth anniversary in 2016, a plaque inscribed with the names of those who perished was installed at Pristina City Park. The unveiling ceremony was conducted by Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák.

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  State memorial service held in Prešov City Sport Hall on 26 January 2006.
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  KFOR-commissioned monument honoring crash victims
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  Victims’ memorial situated on Borsó Hill
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  President Jahjaga of Kosovo laying a wreath at the Prishtina Central Park memorial dedicated to Slovak KFOR soldiers

Investigation

Tibor Dobson from the disaster prevention division of Hungary's Ministry of the Interior reported that the aircraft deviated approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) from the designated route specified in the flight plan once Slovak air traffic control assumed responsibility from their Hungarian counterparts.

Findings reveal that the pilot initiated descent prematurely during nighttime, aiming toward the illuminated area of Košice.

See also

• List of sole survivors of aviation accidents and incidents

External links

• Photographs of the aircraft before the accident
• Collection of crash images