Gajdos: Engine Failure Behind Military Aircraft Crash near Sliac

Sliac, October 10 (TASR) – The crash of a military training aircraft L-39, which took place between Sliac Air Base and Kovacova spa village (Banska Bystrica region) on Wednesday, was caused by an engine failure, stated Defence Minister Peter Gajdos (SNS) at a briefing at the place of the incident.

Gajdos added that the two-member crew present on the plane were catapulted from the carrier and survived without any serious injuries.

The incident took place during air training tasks at approximately 2.15 p.m. “A rescue system was launched immediately after the engine broke down. I would like to praise the professionalism of the two pilots as well as of the air rescue and search service, including the air traffic commander,” said the minister.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Danka Capakova stated that the pilots were released from a local hospital in the evening. She added that based on the decision of the Slovak Air Forces commander, all flights of the L-39 Albatros aircraft were suspended until the investigation into the incident is completed.