A Czech army UH-1Y Venom helicopter crashed shortly before 1 p.m. local time on July 23 at the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base in Namest nad Oslavou, located about 180 to 200 kilometers southeast of Prague [1, 2].
Five soldiers were aboard the helicopter when it went down, according to the Czech Army's social media statements [2, 3, 1]. One soldier died in the crash while four others sustained injuries [2, 3, 1]. Petr Janacek, a rescue service spokesperson, confirmed, "One person did not survive the crash" [1].
Emergency responders, including ground crews and air ambulance helicopters, were quickly dispatched to the scene to provide aid [2, 1]. The Czech Army stated, "Our absolute priority now is to provide all possible care and support to the injured soldiers and their loved ones. We are also in contact with the family of the deceased serviceman, to whom we are providing all necessary help" [3].
The UH-1Y Venom helicopter involved is manufactured by Bell Textron and powered by two T700-GE-401C engines made by General Electric [2]. In 2019, the Czech military purchased eight of these helicopters and four combat variants from the United States [3].
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. Emergency services remain engaged in supporting the wounded.
The 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base in Namest nad Oslavou continues to serve as a central hub for Czech army aviation operations.
