 The helicopter involved in the crash, photographed in 2012 | |
| Crash | |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 March 2015 (2015-03-13) |
| Summary | Helicopter crashed due to low visibility |
| Site |
|
| Total fatalities | 7 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mi-17 |
| Operator | Serbian Army |
| Registration | 12551 |
| Flight origin | Novi Pazar |
| Stopover | Raška |
| Destination | Belgrade Airport |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 13 March 2015,Serbian ArmyMi-17 helicopter crashed just short ofBelgrade airport while employed in transportation of a 5-day-old baby with respiratory problems due to road blockade by the landslide. All 7 individuals aboard, including four crew members, two medical staff and the baby, died. The helicopter flew fromNovi Pazar to Belgrade in order to transport sick baby to the hospital. The flight was order byMinister of HealthZlatibor Lončar and then-minister of defenseBratislav Gašić. Due to bad weather, the helicopter made several circles around the airport and two landing attempts, but then crashed with no survivors.
After the tragedy, it was revealed that the Government officials disregarded safety regulations in order to use the flight as a propaganda tool. This was confirmed by the fact that several government-affiliated news outlets published a story about "successful rescue operation" before the crash, only to retract it when it became clear that the operation ended in disaster. Although the pilot asked for permission to divert the flight to either theMilitary Medical Academy'sheliport or theBatajnica Air Base, this was repeatedly denied. The reason for denial was speculated to be minister Lončar's desire to personally welcome the baby at the Belgrade airport in front of the cameras, for propaganda purposes.
15 March 2015 was declared anational day of mourning by the Government of Serbia. Although several military rules were breached by those who ordered the operation, no one has ever been tried for the tragedy. All the blame was shifted to the pilots. Belgrade's public prosecutor declined to open an investigation against anyone. This case has since often been cited as one of the best known examples of corruption and lack ofaccountability in Serbian politics.
TheSerbian ArmyMi-17 helicopter was carrying a five-day-old baby with life-threatening respiratory problems[1] to Belgrade for treatment at theInstitute for Health Care of Mother and Child.[2] Military had been called out after an ambulance carrying the baby from Novi Pazar to Belgrade was blocked by a mudslide about 200 km (120 miles) south of Belgrade,[1] nearRaška.[2] The helicopter departed from Novi Pazar and landed in Raška to receive the baby on board.[2] Around 10:15 p.m. the helicopter crew made two landing attempts at theBelgrade Airport, but both were unsuccessful due to low visibility.[2] Although the pilot asked for permission to divert the flight to either theMilitary Medical Academy'sheliport or theBatajnica Air Base, this was repeatedly denied.[3] The control tower lost contact with the helicopter at 10:30 p.m. and the helicopter disappeared from air traffic controllers' radar at 10.34 p.m.[4] All seven people aboard were killed when the helicopter crashed into nearby fields.[5] Beside the baby, the helicopter was carrying four army officers (two pilots and two flight engineers) and two medical staff (a doctor and a technician).[4]
Brigadier general Predrag Bandić, commander of the204th Air Brigade, said that the weather was "not dangerous, but was complex, so that pilots with such experience and equipment should have been able to handle it".[2] He was the one who personally ordered the pilots to fly and he claimed that he would not do that if the weather was dangerous.[2]
All seven people aboard the helicopter died in the accident:[2][4]
After the accident, defense ministerBratislav Gašić claimed that the army lost its best pilots,[1] that Mehić was "one of the best pilots of the Serbian army", and that he "saved more than thousand lives in different rescue operations".[6] He also said thatMi-17 was "the best [helicopter] in the Serbian army" and "fully equipped for search and rescue operations".[4] Ministry of Defense awarded 1.2 million dinars to the families of each military victim.[7] 15 March 2015 was declared anational day of mourning by the Government of Serbia.[3]
Two commissions were immediately formed by the Army to investigate the incident.[8] Helicopter'sflight recorder was difunctional and last record was from 2011.[5] The commission claimed that the cause of the tragedy was "miscommunication with theair traffic control". They also claimed that Mehić hadblood alcohol content of 0,068% and urine alcohol level of 0,13%.[5] Mehić's wife said that this was impossible as her husband never drank alcohol.[5] Despite the claim that Mehić was drunk, Serbian presidentTomislav Nikolić awarded him posthumously theMedal for Bravery.[5]
Seven months after the crash, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Bandić and general Ranko Živak for procedure violations. They were punished with two years of prohibition of advancement in service. This was later overturned after an appeal.[5] Fifteen months after the crash, the public prosecutor declined to investigate, citing that the military commissions found no evidence of criminal behavior.[5]
Soon after the crash, two questions drew controversy: Why the military helicopter was ordered to land on the civilian airport, and not on the Batajnica Airbase or theMilitary Medical Academy'sheliport; and why was it decided to fly to Belgrade and not to much closerKragujevac Clinical Centre.[5] The official investigation never gave any answers to those questions.[5][8]
Minutes before the crash, several media outlets reported about a "successful rescue operation" and how healthcare ministerZlatibor Lončar "personally welcomed the baby at the airport".[3][9] Those reports were soon retracted, when the news about the crash arrived,[3] although some newspapers were already sent to print, so the "news" about the "successful operation" was printed.[8] This drew attention to the possibility that the safety of the crew was disregarded in order to use the rescue operation as a propaganda tool for Lončar.[8] It was revealed that the whole operation was orchestrated by Zlatibor Lonačar and defense minister Gašić.[8] Retired warrant officer of the aviation Saša Jovanović said that the helicopter was ordered to land at the Belgrade airport despite low visibility, only because of the Lonačar's desire to welcome the baby in front of the cameras.[9] Although several military regulations were breached, no one was ever punished for this.[8] The blame was shifted to the dead crew members.[8]
The helicopter accident has since often been cited as one of the best known examples of corruption and lack ofaccountability in Serbian politics.[10][11]