Helicopter Crash in Náměšť nad Oslavou: Military Police Investigate Negligence Case

The Czech Military Police have launched a criminal investigation on suspicion of negligent endangerment following the crash of an army helicopter at the military base in Náměšť nad Oslavou. The disaster occurred two weeks ago on a Thursday around noon, when a new Czech Army helicopter fell from a height of 50 metres.

Five service members were on board. One female soldier died at the scene, while four of her colleagues were taken to hospital with injuries of varying severity. On the day of the tragedy, Chief of the General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč asked journalists to give the victim's family, loved ones and colleagues time to cope with their grief without excessive media attention.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. According to Petr Tomanek, commander of the Czech Air Force, the helicopter was returning from a routine training flight. Military Police spokeswoman Nikola Rimkevič Hájková said the force has already opened proceedings and is investigating the incident on suspicion of the crime of negligent endangerment. The number of suspects in the case has not been disclosed.

Under Czech criminal law, if guilt is proven, those responsible face three to ten years in prison.

The army had earlier confirmed that the crashed UH-1Y Venom helicopter had returned shortly before the incident from a mission in Poland, where Czech troops have been helping to guard the airspace against Russian drones near the border with Belarus since last autumn, rotating every three to four months. The aircraft involved in the crash had been deployed there from March to June.

The new American helicopters entered service with the Czech Army relatively recently. In 2019, the Ministry of Defence purchased 12 modern aircraft — eight UH-1Y Venoms and four AH-1Z Vipers — for nearly 15 billion crowns excluding VAT. The machines were delivered gradually, with the last units arriving at the helicopter base in Náměšť nad Oslavou in the summer of 2024. These aircraft replaced the Czech Army's Russian-made Mi-24 helicopters, which were decommissioned in 2023. The army is also set to receive eight more helicopters — six older Vipers and two Venoms — from the United States as a gift in recognition of the Czech Republic's support for Ukraine.

Pending the outcome of the crash investigation, the army has suspended operations of all new helicopters of this type, known as the H-1 system.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz