Pilots of crashed Yak-52 get Patriots’ Award

Budapest, August 17 (MTI) – The pilots of a military aircraft involved in a crash landing in July have been presented with military awards.

Defence Minister Csaba Hende presented the Patriots’ Award to Major Laszlo Horvath and Lieutenant Colonel Zoltan Litauszki, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.

The pilots landed the Soviet-made Yak-52 training aircraft on July 25 at the airport in Szolnok, central Hungary, after it caught fire mid-air. Litauszki was unhurt, while Horvath was hospitalised with severe burns. After several operations, Horvath left intensive care and is now recovering at the Plastic Surgery and Burns Ward at the Military Hospital in Budapest. He is expected to be released later this week.

The Patriots’ Award is the highest distinction awarded in the ranks of the military for an outstanding, heroic deed.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters