Mysterious military helicopter crash: Hungarian ministry silent, Croatia speaks out
In the summer of 2023, a Hungarian military helicopter crashed in Croatia, claiming the lives of three Hungarian soldiers. Despite public interest, the Hungarian Defence Ministry has remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose the cause of this fatal accident.
Tragic helicopter crash
The victims—Captain Ádám Radnai, First Lieutenant Dávid Konrád and Warrant Officer Tamás Lőrincz—were piloting an Airbus H145M military helicopter through the Čikola canyon when the devastating crash occurred. Sadly, none of the crew survived. One of them, Tamás Lőrincz, participated in NATO missions in Afghanistan three times before the crash, so all of them can be considered seasoned officers.
Hungarian media sought details from the Defence Ministry, but their inquiries were met with silence. In contrast, the Croatian Prosecutor’s Office for Šibenik-Knin County responded swiftly to a query from the news outlet 24.hu, providing insight within just one day.
According to Croatian authorities, the helicopter’s crew deviated from the authorised flight plan. This led to the aircraft colliding with an aerial ropeway cable, causing an immediate and catastrophic crash. No further details about the circumstances were released by the Croatian side.
Additional questions raised
As reported by Telex, it remains unclear whether the pilot disobeyed orders or made an independent manoeuvre. In light of this, 24.hu has pressed the Hungarian Defence Ministry with follow-up questions, including inquiries about compensation for the fallen soldiers and whether an investigation into responsibility has been launched.
Telex also revealed that two Hungarian Airbus H145 helicopters were conducting a training mission in Croatian airspace when the tragedy struck, with the crash occurring near Šibenik.
Croatian Defence Minister Mario Banožić said back then that all maps had been updated prior to the exercise, so the pilots were fully aware of the locations of antennas, power lines and turbines. He emphasised that the helicopter had collided with a cable line clearly marked on the maps provided to the Hungarian soldiers.
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