How the last humanitarian flight to Srebrenica and Žepa ended in tragedy: The deaths of 12 people remain unexplained 31 years later

(Patria) - The 31st anniversary of the deaths of the crew members and passengers of an Army of RBiH helicopter that took off on May 7, 1995, towards Žepa and Srebrenica, and then crashed near its intended landing site, was marked at the former wartime helipad in Višća near Živinice.

By laying flowers and paying tribute, those present remembered the pilots, doctors, and passengers who perished during the humanitarian flight to the besieged enclaves of eastern Bosnia.

This accident interrupted the air bridge to Srebrenica, writes Federalna.ba.

Thirty-one years ago, an Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina helicopter took off from the wartime helipad in Višća near Živinice towards Žepa and Srebrenica.

It was a humanitarian flight of hope for the besieged enclaves of eastern Bosnia, but also the last flight for the pilots, doctors, and passengers who never returned from this mission.

Three decades later, the anniversary of the tragedy that interrupted the air bridge to Srebrenica was marked at the takeoff site.

- For us, this is one of the most significant dates precisely because of the difficulty of the task that these great and brave people performed during the war - said Enes Gurda, president of the Unified Organization of Veterans "Union of Veterans" Živinice.

One of the participants in the humanitarian flights was pilot Jakub Siočić.

- The fighters and people there expected help from us, who were the only ones able to deliver medicine by helicopter, evacuate the wounded, and deliver the material and technical resources they needed.

We also carried out the evacuation of the wounded to relieve the existing hospitals - Siočić recalled.

Twelve people died in the helicopter crash. Among them were pilots Džemal Malkić and Enver Čokić, flight engineer Izet Džambić, and Tuzla doctors Sead Halilović, Muharem Deljković, and Husein Halilović, as well as six other passengers.

Ten people were injured in the accident at the time.

Pilot-technician and member of the Tuzla Aviation Group Izudin Šarić emphasized the importance of conveying the story of these events to younger generations.

- From today's perspective, it is very important to talk to young people about the people who gave their lives so that we can live in the freedom we have today.

Getting into such a helicopter and going to the heights of Žepa was a true feat of all members of the wartime air force - Šarić emphasized.

Tributes were also paid to the fallen at memorials in their hometowns around Živinice.

- Every year, on the sad May 7th, we gather at this memorial to pay tribute to our community member Džemal Džema Malkić, as well as to the others who perished with him on the last flight to the enclave - said Elmedin ef. Kadrić, imam of the Džebari community.

After the crash of this helicopter, the air bridge to the eastern enclaves was practically cut off, which further complicated the situation of the population of Srebrenica and Žepa in the months that followed.

Even today, 31 years later, the circumstances of the accident have not been clarified.