Czech army helicopter crash in Náměšť prompts criminal probe
A US‑made UH‑1Y Venom helicopter crashed while landing at the military base in Náměšť nad Oslavou, Czech Republic, killing one crew member and injuring four others. The aircraft was returning from a routine training flight with five soldiers on board.
The Military Police have opened criminal proceedings, investigating the incident for "general endangerment through negligence". Under the Czech criminal code, a conviction could carry a prison term of three to ten years. Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna said the causes cannot be speculated on at this stage.
In response, the army has suspended operations of all its Venom and Viper helicopters pending the investigation. The crash involves helicopters purchased in 2019, with the latest units delivered in June 2023, and the fleet was intended to replace older Russian‑made Mi‑24s.
Entities: Czech army · Jaromír Zůna · Nikola Rimkevič Hájková · Náměšť nad Oslavou military base · UH‑1Y Venom helicopter