2015 Belgrade helicopter crash

Serbian Army

Company type	Military
Industry	Defense
Headquarters	Belgrade , Serbia

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence On 13 March 2015, a Serbian Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed shortly before reaching Belgrade Airport while transporting a five-day-old infant suffering from respiratory issues, due to a landslide blocking road access. All seven people on board perished, including four crew members, two medical personnel, and the infant. The helicopter had departed from Novi Pazar en route to Belgrade to transfer the critically ill baby to medical care. This mission was ordered by the Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar alongside then-Defence Minister Bratislav Gašić. Adverse weather conditions forced the aircraft to circle multiple times near the airport and attempt two landings before ultimately crashing with no survivors.

Following the incident, investigations revealed that government authorities ignored safety protocols to leverage the flight for political propaganda. Evidence included premature reports by several government-controlled media outlets announcing a "successful rescue" prior to the crash, which were later withdrawn once the fatal outcome became apparent. Despite the pilot’s requests to divert to either the Military Medical Academy heliport or Batajnica Air Base, permission was consistently denied. Speculation arose that Minister Lončar wished to personally receive the infant at Belgrade airport for media exposure.

The Serbian Government declared 15 March 2015 a National day of mourning. Although multiple military regulations were violated by those who authorized the operation, accountability was never pursued; responsibility was placed solely on the pilots. The public prosecutor in Belgrade refused to initiate any formal investigation against officials involved. This event has since become widely regarded as a prominent example of corruption and lack of accountability within Serbian political circles.

Incident

A Serbian Army Mi-17 helicopter was transporting a critically ill five-day-old infant suffering from severe respiratory distress to Belgrade for specialized care at the Institute for Health Care of Mother and Child. The military was mobilized after a mudslide obstructed the ambulance route from Novi Pazar to Belgrade, approximately 200 km (120 miles) south of Belgrade, near Raška. The helicopter took off from Novi Pazar, making a stop in Raška to pick up the infant. At around 10:15 p.m., the crew attempted two landings at Belgrade Airport, but poor visibility prevented both. Despite the pilot's requests to divert to either the Military Medical Academy's heliport or Batajnica Air Base, air traffic control repeatedly denied permission. Contact with the helicopter was lost by the control tower at 10:30 p.m., and it vanished from radar screens at 10:34 p.m. Tragically, all seven individuals on board perished when the aircraft crashed into nearby fields. Alongside the infant, the passengers included four army personnel—two pilots and two flight engineers—and two medical professionals—a doctor and a technician.

Brigadier General Predrag Bandić, commander of the 204th Air Brigade, described the weather conditions as "complex but not hazardous," emphasizing that pilots equipped with experience and suitable aircraft should have managed them safely. He personally authorized the flight and stated he would not have done so had the weather posed a genuine threat.

Victims

Tragically, all seven individuals on board the helicopter lost their lives in the crash:

1. Omer Mehić, an army major serving as pilot
2. Milovan Đukarić, army captain and pilot
3. Nebojša Drajić, warrant officer and flight engineer
4. Ivan Miladinović, warrant officer and flight engineer
5. Dževad Ljajić, medical doctor
6. Miroslav Veselinović, anesthetic technician
7. An unnamed five-day-old infant from the Ademović family

Following the incident, Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić expressed that the military had lost some of its finest aviators. He described Mehić as "one of the Serbian army's top pilots," highlighting that he "saved over a thousand lives during various rescue missions." Gašić also emphasized that the Mi-17 helicopter was "the premier aircraft within the Serbian military" and "fully outfitted for search and rescue tasks." The Ministry of Defense granted each family of the deceased military personnel compensation amounting to 1.2 million dinars. Furthermore, the Government of Serbia declared 15 March 2015 as a National day of mourning.

Investigation

Immediately after the tragedy, two separate Army commissions were established to conduct inquiries into the event. The helicopter’s flight recorder was found to be non-functional, with its last data recorded in 2011. The investigative body attributed the cause of the accident to "a breakdown in communication with air traffic control." Additionally, they reported that Mehić had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.068% and a urine alcohol level of 0.13%. However, Mehić’s spouse contested these claims, stating that her husband abstained from alcohol. Despite these allegations, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić posthumously honored Mehić with the Medal for Bravery.

Disciplinary actions were initiated seven months post-crash against Bandić and General Ranko Živak for violations. Both were initially barred from promotions for two years; however, this decision was reversed upon appeal. Fifteen months after the accident, the public prosecutor chose not to pursue a criminal investigation, citing that military commissions had uncovered no evidence of unlawful conduct.

Controversy

The crash sparked significant debate surrounding two key issues: why the military helicopter was directed to land at a civilian airport instead of Batajnica Airbase or the Military Medical Academy heliport; and why it was decided to fly to Belgrade rather than to the closer Clinical Centre in Kragujevac. Official investigations failed to provide explanations addressing these concerns.

Shortly before the crash occurred, several media outlets reported on a "successful rescue operation," mentioning that Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar "personally received the baby at the airport." These reports were quickly retracted following news of the accident; however, some newspapers had already gone to print with this premature information. This sequence raised suspicions that crew safety might have been compromised for propagandistic purposes benefiting Lončar. It later emerged that both Lončar and Defense Minister Gašić orchestrated the entire operation. Retired aviation warrant officer Saša Jovanović revealed that despite poor visibility conditions, orders were given for the helicopter to land at Belgrade airport specifically so Lončar could greet the infant in front of cameras. Although multiple military protocols were violated during this process, no individuals faced repercussions. Responsibility was ultimately shifted onto the deceased crew members.

This helicopter disaster has since become emblematic as one of Serbia’s most prominent cases illustrating political corruption and a lack of accountability.

See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2010–2019)

Further reading

• Izveštaji o padu vojnog helikoptera – Vreme