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Mourning in Serbia after deadly baby rescue helicopter crash | Mourning in Serbia after deadly baby rescue helicopter crash |
(about 5 hours later) | |
National mourning has been declared in Serbia after a rescue helicopter crashed while carrying a newborn baby for medical treatment, with the loss of all seven people aboard. | National mourning has been declared in Serbia after a rescue helicopter crashed while carrying a newborn baby for medical treatment, with the loss of all seven people aboard. |
The helicopter came down in heavy fog while trying to land in the capital Belgrade on Friday night. | The helicopter came down in heavy fog while trying to land in the capital Belgrade on Friday night. |
Four crew members and two medical workers were also on the aircraft. | Four crew members and two medical workers were also on the aircraft. |
As mourning was declared, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said the army had lost its best helicopter pilots. | As mourning was declared, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said the army had lost its best helicopter pilots. |
The helicopter had been called out after an ambulance carrying the baby was blocked by a mudslide about 200km (120 miles) south of Belgrade. | The helicopter had been called out after an ambulance carrying the baby was blocked by a mudslide about 200km (120 miles) south of Belgrade. |
The five-day-old baby was being rushed for treatment after developing life-threatening respiratory problems. | The five-day-old baby was being rushed for treatment after developing life-threatening respiratory problems. |
Officials say the control tower at Belgrade airport lost contact with the helicopter while it awaited clearance to land just after 22:30 local time (21:30 GMT) on Friday. | Officials say the control tower at Belgrade airport lost contact with the helicopter while it awaited clearance to land just after 22:30 local time (21:30 GMT) on Friday. |
It had failed in two attempts to land to poor visibility, helicopter unit commander Predrag Bandic told reporters. | It had failed in two attempts to land to poor visibility, helicopter unit commander Predrag Bandic told reporters. |
'Serbia's best pilots' | 'Serbia's best pilots' |
Serbian media named the pilots as Major Omer Mehic and Captain Milovan Djukelic and the flight engineers as Ensign Nebojsa Drajic and Ensign Ivan Miladinovic. | |
Their photos were published on the website of the Serbian armed forces. | |
Killed along with them were a doctor, Dzevad Ljajic, and an anaesthesiologist, Miroslav Veselinovic. The name of the baby was not immediately available. | |
The accident stunned colleagues of the pilots at the defence ministry, the BBC's Guy Delauney reports from Belgrade. | The accident stunned colleagues of the pilots at the defence ministry, the BBC's Guy Delauney reports from Belgrade. |
Those on board were regarded as heroes after rescuing scores of people during last year's heavy floods, our correspondent adds. | Those on board were regarded as heroes after rescuing scores of people during last year's heavy floods, our correspondent adds. |
"The pilots who lost their lives last night were the best pilots in the Serbian army," Mr Gasic said. "This is an immeasurable loss for us." | "The pilots who lost their lives last night were the best pilots in the Serbian army," Mr Gasic said. "This is an immeasurable loss for us." |
According to the defence minister, the Russian-made MI-17 transport helicopter was "the best in the Serbian army" and had been fully equipped for search and rescue operations. | According to the defence minister, the Russian-made MI-17 transport helicopter was "the best in the Serbian army" and had been fully equipped for search and rescue operations. |
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic declared Sunday a national day of mourning to mark what is the country's worst such accident in almost two decades. | Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic declared Sunday a national day of mourning to mark what is the country's worst such accident in almost two decades. |
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