SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SHOCK AND SADNESS OVER NEWS OF UN HELICOPTER CRASH IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Press Release
SG/SM/6330
SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SHOCK AND SADNESS OVER NEWS OF UN HELICOPTER CRASH IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
19970917 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General was shocked and deeply saddened by the news this morning about the crash of a United Nations helicopter in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The helicopter was carrying 12 members of the United Nations- International Police Task Force (IPTF) and of the Office of the High Representative, as well as four crew members. According to the initial reports, 11 persons were killed and five survived the crash. The Secretary- General is following the developments closely. He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of those that were killed in the crash and he hopes for a speedy recovery of the survivors.
The Secretary-General wishes to thank the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina which conducted the search and rescue operation and in whose medical facilities the survivors are being cared for.
An investigation into the causes of the crash will be carried out and an air safety specialist of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations will leave today for Sarajevo.
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