2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crash
Template:Infobox Airliner accident
The 2008 crash of a Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 helicopter occurred on Saturday, 12 January 2008. A transport helicopter operated by the Macedonian military crashed approximately 50 to 100 metres from the village of Blace, located in the Katlanovo area,[1][2] roughly 10 to 15 kilometres southeast of Skopje,[3][4] as a result of poor visibility due to dense fog. All eleven people on board—eight passengers and three crew members—lost their lives in the accident.[5]
Incident
The crash happened near 11:00 a.m. (GMT) while the helicopter was returning from a peacekeeping operation under EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During its approach to Skopje Airport, weather conditions deteriorated with heavy fog,[6] complicating the landing procedure.[2] Two local fishermen first reported the accident after observing the aircraft flying at an unusually low altitude. One eyewitness commented that "The helicopter's engine did not sound like it was functioning properly..."[2] Further accounts described witnessing a "fireball" as the helicopter caught fire upon impact.[4] This was followed by multiple explosions, likely caused by stored kerosene or ammunition onboard.[2]
According to an eyewitness photographer from Reuters, the helicopter was completely destroyed by fire, with wreckage scattered up to 100 metres from the crash location.[7]
Reactions
Upon reaching the crash location, the Prime Minister of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, described the event as "a dreadful accident, an immense tragedy, and a significant loss." He extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and announced that a formal inquiry would be launched to determine the accident's cause.[2][4][6]
Similarly, the President of Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski, conveyed his sorrow over the fatalities, remarking: "Such a tragic loss of Macedonian soldiers has not been witnessed in our recent history..."[8] The Republic of Macedonia's Ministry of Defense confirmed that this incident represents the most fatal aviation disaster in the nation's air force history.[9]
In addition to the president and prime minister, Gordana Jankulovska, the Interior Minister of Macedonia, promptly visited the crash site following the accident.[9]
Aftermath
In the immediate period following the crash, only seven of the soldiers had been positively identified.[10] Once all victims were identified, reports confirmed that eleven military personnel aged between 26 and 40 had lost their lives in the tragedy.[8]
Subsequent to the event, the Macedonian government established a dedicated commission tasked with investigating the circumstances leading to the crash.[8]
- ↑ Macedonia military chopper crashes, no survivors ABC News. 13 January 2008.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 soldiers by Goran Trajkov. Southeast European Times. 14 January 2008.
- ↑ 11 ARM soldiers die in copter crash near Katlanovo Macedonian Information Agency.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Macedonia crash kills 11 soldiers BBC. 12 January 2008.
- ↑ Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 by Ognen Teofilovski. The Age. 13 January 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Macedonian Army Helicopter Crash Kills 11 Fox News. 12 January 2008.
- ↑ Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11 Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today. Reuters. The West Australian. 13 January 2008.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 11 Helicopter Crash Victims Buried in Macedonia Novinite. 16 January 2008.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Macedonian army helicopter crashes, 11 killed. The Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. 12 January 2008.
- ↑ Macedonian military helicopter crash kills 11 Reuters. 12 January 2008.