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Accident of a EULEX Kosovo helicopter in Pristina. 1 wounded (shift)

A Eulex helicopter in 2014 (B2 Archives / Credit: EULEX)
The Eulex helicopter (a Puma) from Starlite Aviation in 2014 (B2 Archives / Credit: EULEX)

(BRUSSELS2) A helicopter of the European mission "Rule of Law in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo) had an accident, during an "emergency landing", on the airport of Pristina, this Tuesday (May 12) in the afternoon (15 p.m.) Accident officially confirmed by the mission.

A casualty

Only one injured is to be deplored, according to EULEX Kosovo (and not two as previously announced). This one was " immediately transported to Pristina University Hospital ". The other people got out of the plane on their own. There were 4 people on board: pilot, co-pilot and two members of the helicopter emergency medical team (HEMS) - a doctor and a nurse. One of the members of this team was injured. " No (other) EULEX personnel were injured ” specifies the press release of the mission (*) If we rely on the first known elements, we cannot speak of a crash in the proper sense but rather of a (very) brutal landing).

This (private) helicopter is normally dedicated to rescue operations (Medevac). It is provided by a private company (currently starlite aviation) which has contracted with the European Union.

(NGV)

(*) Faithful to the B2 policy, we consider as "members" of a European CSDP mission, all personnel, whatever their status (contracted, seconded, member of an external company) as long as they participates in the operation and is under the hierarchical authority of the Head of Mission/Operation or the High Representative of the EU. Read memoriam

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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