Czech army UH‑1Y Venom helicopter crash kills one, injures four
On 23 July 2026, a Czech Army UH‑1Y Venom helicopter crashed at the 22nd Helicopter Base in Náměšť nad Oslavou, about 180 km southeast of Prague. Five soldiers were on board; one female soldier died and four others were injured – three with moderate wounds and one with minor injuries. Rescue crews transported the victims to hospitals in Brno, Jihlava and Třebíč. Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna expressed condolences and the army suspended all flights of its H‑1 fleet (UH‑1Y Venom and AH‑1Z Viper), including the helicopters deployed in Poland, until the investigation is complete. The cause is still under review, with authorities examining a possible loss of tail‑rotor effectiveness. The US manufacturer Bell Textron is cooperating with the inquiry.