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Czech army helicopter with five soldiers on board crashes, one dead

July 23, 2026 7:32 AM EDT

PRAGUE, July 23 (Reuters) - ‌A Czech ​military ​helicopter crashed in the east of the country on Thursday, killing one of the five ‌soldiers on board, the army said.

The crash happened ⁠at an army base in Namest nad Oslavou, 180 km (112 ‌miles) southeast of Prague, it ‌said in a statement.

"Our highest priority is now to provide all possible care and support to the ​injured soldiers and their loved ones," the army said. "We are also in contact with the family ⁠of the deceased soldier, to whom we are providing all necessary assistance."

Czech ​TV footage showed fire engines and what appeared to be the overturned body of a ​helicopter through a perimeter fence ‌of the airbase.

Jihlava region rescue service spokesman Petr Janacek said three people were transferred ⁠to hospital in Brno with medium-severity injuries, while one with mild injuries was transferred to a hospital in Jihlava.

A ⁠further three people were taken to hospital in Trebic after inhaling ​smoke, he said.

The army said a UH-1Y Venom helicopter was involved in the crash. The UH-1Y Venom is a multi-purpose ‌helicopter produced by Bell Textron and powered by two T700-GE-401C engines produced by General ‌Electric .

It said the operation of all H-1 helicopters in ⁠the army had been ‌suspended until an ​investigation is completed.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka, writing by Alan Charlish,Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Susan ‌Fenton)



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