Posted on 01/20/2006 12:32:47 PM PST by Grzegorz 246
HEJCE, Hungary (Reuters) - A Slovak military plane crashed into a snowy mountain in Hungary late on Thursday after starting its descent too early, killing 42 people, mostly peacekeepers from a NATO mission in Kosovo.
The only survivor phoned his wife to raise the alarm just after the plane crashed in mid-evening and was in a stable condition in a hospital in Kosice, Slovakia.
Hungarian officials said initially the plane had diverted from its correct flight path, but later clarified their statement to say it was about three km (two miles) off the ideal trajectory, but still within the permitted corridor.
A Slovak official said visibility was very good and the experienced pilot, whose plane had been serviced regularly, had not reported any technical failure.
"The pilot flew along the set flight path. The only problem was that he started descending too early," Slovak Air Force commander Juraj Baranek told a news conference.
Difficult terrain and freezing temperatures hampered efforts to reach the crash site, 700 metres (2,300 feet) up in a forested, uninhabited mountain area, Hungarian officials said. The plane was 20 km from its destination, Kosice air base.
By mid-afternoon on Friday, all 42 bodies and the flight recorder, which could reveal the cause of the crash, had been found, Slovak Defense Ministry spokesman Zenon Mikle said.
The flight carried 28 soldiers on a regular troop rotation from KFOR, the peacekeeping force in Kosovo, as well as seven support staff and eight crew, according to the ministry.
A Reuters photographer said the Soviet-built Antonov plane had cut a swathe through the woods.
"I can see the tail of the aircraft stuck in between trees in thick forest, with the Slovak coat of arms clearly visible," said Laszlo Balogh.
Hungarian Defense Minister Ferenc Juhasz told a news conference a second Slovak plane was flying behind and saw the 36-year-old An-24 crash. He said it had burst into flames when it crashed near the eastern village of Telkibanya.
The second plane landed safely and alerted rescuers.
CALL TO WIFE
The survivor, who was not identified by Slovak authorities, telephoned his wife, Michaela Farkasova, just after the crash.
"He said that the plane he was traveling on from Kosovo crashed," she told Slovak TA3 television. "He said he was alive but covered in blood."
Slovak officials said the pilots on both planes were highly experienced, with more than 1,800 flying hours each.
One Hungarian expert, who flies the An-26, a sister aircraft to the An-24, said he doubted there had been a mechanical failure, despite the age of the aircraft.
"It was probably the weather or a mistake by the crew which led to the crash," said Jozsef Nagy, who heads the Hungarian Air Force's An-26 group of five aircraft.
Many air forces in the former Warsaw Pact, such those of as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, still fly Soviet-era planes.
Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda announced a day of mourning from noon on Monday.
A NATO spokesman in Kosovo said about 100 Slovak soldiers were based there as part of the 17,000-strong force.
Terrible! May God comfort those who mourn.
Ron Brown's aircraft similarly departed the glideslope too early when it crashed.
Tinfoil alert
This is awful. Prayers for all.
Is this what you reference?
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/CRASH/BROWN/brown.html
Yep. ;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.