Minister Naď at Hejce: Time flies, but pain remains after the loss of close ones

19 January 2006 saw the worst air disaster ever to strike Slovakia in its history when the Slovak Air Force Antonov AN-24 transport aircraft that was carrying SLOVCON KFOR personnel returning from their tour of duty in Kosovo crashed into Hill Borsó at the village of Hejce.

At today's annual Act of Remembrance, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko paused to pay their utmost respects to the memory of the Service members at the 42 symbolic oak posts which stand at the site of the tragedy.

Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “We have gathered here for the last 16 years since the moment that shook our Ministry of Defence – our working and personal lives, the whole of Slovakia, and our allies. Time flies, but pain remains after the loss of close ones, as do the empty places after our colleagues, friends and relatives who lost their lives at this site.”

“These 39 men and 3 women from among our ranks perished while serving our country in support of peace and calm in the world. Therefore, they will forever remain imprinted in the memory of both their close ones and our country, a modern independent Slovakia. We honour their memory,” continued Minister Naď, recognising the victims who devoted their lives to living up to the oath they swore in the military – to protect our country, even at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice. He sympathised with all the next-of-kin and bereaved families over their long-lasting pain. Earlier, he had complied with their wishes by declassifying the Service Inquiry Report into the Antonov AN-24 Air Disaster in 2020.

Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “Even 16 years on, this loss of our colleagues is still sensitive, and whilst enough time has passed since then for us to find reconciliation, each life lost remains equally precious to us. All air disasters are a combination of numerous sets of circumstances which may not always establish beyond reasonable doubt who the culprit is. For me, both the soldiers who lost their lives on their way back from their tour of duty and the crew who performed their duties to the highest of standards and to the best of their knowledge and skills are equal heroes.”

The Act of Remembrance continued at the Hejce Air Disaster Memorial located in the village. There, Minister Naď thanked the village mayor and residents for preserving the memory of the fallen Service members. For this, he awarded them with the Slovak Minister of Defence Commemorative Medal, 3rd Grade.