Statement of Chief of General Staff of Albanian Armed Forces Major General Jeronim Bazo

Published: Wednesday, 06 April 2016 17:45

Today’s statement is not a common one; this is a statement that no one would like to make it. Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces announce that during a drill according to a schedule approved beforehand, the helicopter of Air Force made an accident in the region of Grizhë in Malesia e Madhe.

Helicopter EC 145, with board number 637 had on his board 3 crews, Captain Floran Deliaj, Lieutenant Donald Hoxha and Private Second Class Soldier Gerald Baramuça.
I regret to inform you that two of the crew members, Captain Florian Delija and Lieutenant Donald Hoxha passed away, while the third, PR2 Gerald Baramuça is being treated at the Regional Hospital of Shkodra and is out of danger.

The Albanian Armed Forces have lost two devoted soldiers two talented pilots that have always been willing to sacrifice for the others. On behalf of the Defence Ministry, General Staff of the AAF and all the personnel of the AAF we extend our deepest condolences to the deceased families, fallen in the line of duty, while we wish to the injured total recovery as soon as possible.

Ministry of Defense and the General Staff immediately have committed all available resources to shed light on the circumstances in which the tragic accident has occurred. There are many questions that need answers, but I would ask for your understanding in order to provide the process with the required time necessary for the clarification of the circumstances of the event to which we are all interested.

Questions and answers

Did the helicopter emerge from the trajectory?

EC-145 helicopter has been used by AAF last year in November. Both EC-145 helicopters have been bought recently by AAF, based on multi-year contracts and were within their period of flight. Meanwhile, as I said above, the flight schedule of the helicopter was in the trajectory, as part of a drill according to a schedule approved beforehand, or as we call it, flight date, because the function of the helicopter is to serve in search – rescue operations. This was the purpose of the flight.

How many years of experience had the pilots and which is suspected to be the cause?

Both pilots have a praiseworthy pleasing experience, extensively trained home and abroad. I would ask for your understanding as in such similar cases everywhere in the world, is required a necessary period of prudence, professional accuracy in order to shed the appropriate light on the incident in question. We promise you that whenever we have the all required information, we will share it with the public opinion of the Albanian Republic, who just as we, I am sure, share the same sorrow, respect and appreciation for the commendable work of the pilots.

Has the helicopter passed the mechanical test prior to flying?

It is still very early; it is expected to pile up all the necessary data and the necessary prudence required in such cases, as everywhere in cases like this one. Regarding the mechanical test, everything has been done according to the rules of flying and the necessary preparations which are made in these cases.
Thank you for your attention!