Seven die in helicopter crash

BELGRADE - Seven people have been killed in the crash of a helicopter transporting a baby from Novi Pazar for emergency treatment in Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said during an extraordinary government session on Saturday.

Two pilots - Major Omer Mehic and Captain Milovan Djukelic - two flight engineers - Ensign Nebojsa Drajic and Ensign Ivan Miladinovic - doctor Dzevad Ljajic, anaesthesiologist Miroslav Veselinovic and a five-month old baby of the Ademovic family from Novi Pazar were killed in the crash, Vucic said.

Radio contact with the Serbian Armed Forces helicopter was lost at 10.31 pm Friday, and the aircraft disappeared from the radar screens at 10.34 pm, the prime minister said.

The M-17 helicopter, one of the best military aircraft, fully equipped for rescue operations, crashed about one kilometre outside the Nikola Tesla Airport, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic explained.
"The pilots who died were the best pilots that the Serbian Armed Forces had," he said.

The government members observed a minute of silence for the crash victims and decided to declare Sunday, March 15 a nationwide day of mourning in Serbia.

Photo Tanjug, S. Ilic, T. Valic