Seven Dead in Serbian Army Helicopter Crash

After an investigation of the crash scene, the defence ministry said on Saturday morning that four crew members, two medical workers and the five-day-old baby died when the army helicopter crashed near Belgrade airport in the Surcin neighbourhood of the capital the previous night.

The Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopter was carrying the baby with respiratory problems from the southern Raska region to Belgrade for treatment, after an ambulance taking the child to hospital was blocked by a landslide.

The helicopter went off the radar and the control tower lost contact with its crew around 10.30pm on Friday evening.

The aircraft reportedly crashed due to heavy fog. Local media reported that several commercial flights which tried to land at the airport had to be rerouted to other destinations because of poor visibility.

The Serbian government held en emergency session on Saturday morning and declared Sunday a day of mourning.