MOD leaders and President pause to remember victims of Slovakia's worst air disaster
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- Date: 19.01.2021
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In an Act of Remembrance today, MOD leaders marked the 15th anniversary of Slovakia's worst air disaster and paid tribute to the Service personnel who lost their lives in the crash of a SVK Air Force Antonov AN-24 transport aircraft on 19 January 2006 in Hejce, Hungary. Due to pandemic restrictions in place, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces Zuzana Čaputová, and Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer paused to remember the 42 victims and laid wreaths in silence in front of the Reconciliation Memorial at the Ministry of Defence. Elsewhere, Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko participated in a remembrance ceremony in the Hungarian village of Hejce and on top of Borsó Hill.
Speaking on this solemn anniversary, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “On 19 January 2006 the Slovak Armed Forces lost a part of their military family, our colleagues – servicemen and servicewomen who after accomplishing their mission in Kosovo had only one more task to fulfil – to return home to their loved ones. Unfortunately, this never happened. We pledge never to forget.”
As Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko noted, the symbolic oak posts erected at the site of the crash stand as a permanent reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform – the heroes who had lived up to their noble mission of giving a helping hand wherever needed. “The Slovak soldiers left to build a better world, they cleared obstacles together and experienced collective victories and successes. Sadly, 42 of them never came back home. They will forever remain in our hearts and minds,” he added.
On this occasion, the head of the MOD pointed out that by signing the decision to declassify the Service Inquiry Report into the Antonov AN-24 Air Disaster, after 14 years of waiting and unanswered questions, the next of kin and members of the public were allowed to learn about all aspects and circumstances of this incident. “We owe this not only to them, but also to our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of the Nation,” he added, noting that the Service Inquiry Report is the 8th most frequently viewed page on the MOD website. Over 18,000 people have accessed it since its release on 31 July 2020.
The SVK Air Force Antonov An-24 transport aircraft was carrying the SLOVCON KFOR personnel from Kosovo when it went down on 19 January 2006. The annual Act of Remembrance has been held in Hungary's Hejce where the SVK Ministry of Defence and the Slovak Armed Forces offer a salute to the victims at the site of the air disaster on Borsó Hill, where 42 symbolic oak posts stand in honour of the Service members, and at the Hejce air crash memorial in the village of Hejce.
Speaking on this solemn anniversary, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “On 19 January 2006 the Slovak Armed Forces lost a part of their military family, our colleagues – servicemen and servicewomen who after accomplishing their mission in Kosovo had only one more task to fulfil – to return home to their loved ones. Unfortunately, this never happened. We pledge never to forget.”
As Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko noted, the symbolic oak posts erected at the site of the crash stand as a permanent reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform – the heroes who had lived up to their noble mission of giving a helping hand wherever needed. “The Slovak soldiers left to build a better world, they cleared obstacles together and experienced collective victories and successes. Sadly, 42 of them never came back home. They will forever remain in our hearts and minds,” he added.
On this occasion, the head of the MOD pointed out that by signing the decision to declassify the Service Inquiry Report into the Antonov AN-24 Air Disaster, after 14 years of waiting and unanswered questions, the next of kin and members of the public were allowed to learn about all aspects and circumstances of this incident. “We owe this not only to them, but also to our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of the Nation,” he added, noting that the Service Inquiry Report is the 8th most frequently viewed page on the MOD website. Over 18,000 people have accessed it since its release on 31 July 2020.
The SVK Air Force Antonov An-24 transport aircraft was carrying the SLOVCON KFOR personnel from Kosovo when it went down on 19 January 2006. The annual Act of Remembrance has been held in Hungary's Hejce where the SVK Ministry of Defence and the Slovak Armed Forces offer a salute to the victims at the site of the air disaster on Borsó Hill, where 42 symbolic oak posts stand in honour of the Service members, and at the Hejce air crash memorial in the village of Hejce.
