1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter shootdown

ECMM helicopter shot down by the Yugoslav Air Force January 2021 1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing the Croatian War of Independence Croatia center 300 Cro-occup-lines-Jan92.svg Croatia Podrute 46.1725 16.230556 HR 75 6 left Croatia Kaposvár 46.36383 17.78225 HU 75 right Croatia Varaždin 46.3 16.333333 HR 75 right Croatia Zagreb 45.816667 15.983333 HR 75 right Croatia Novi Marof 46.164401 16.334642 HR 75 right Croatia Željava Air Base 44.836389 15.758056 HR Legenda lotnisko.svg 10 A location map of Croatia indicating location of toponyms used in the article The map of Croatia in January 1992. Serb/JNA-held territories are highlighted in red. near Podrute, Croatia 46 10 21 N 16 13 50 E title type:landmark_region:HR 7 January 1992 EU ECMM helicopters Aircraft shootdown 5 European Community military observers SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force The 1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing was an incident that occurred on 7 January 1992, during the Croatian War of Independence, in which a European Community Monitor Mission (ECMM) helicopter carrying five European Community (EC) observers was downed by a Yugoslav Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, in the airspace above the village of Podrute, near Novi Marof, Croatia. An Italian and a French officer and three Italian non-commissioned officers were killed. Another ECMM helicopter flying in formation with the attacked helicopter made an emergency landing. The second helicopter carried a crew and a visiting diplomat, all of whom survived. The incident was condemned by the United Nations Security Council and the EC. As a result of the incident, the Yugoslav authorities suspended the head of the air force, and the Yugoslav defense minister, General Veljko Kadijević, resigned his post. The events followed the end of the first stage of the war in Croatia and closely preceded the country's international recognition. The MiG-21 pilot, Lieutenant Emir Šišić, an ethnic Bosniak, disappeared after the incident. He was tried in absentia together with his superiors by Croatian authorities, convicted, and sentenced to extended imprisonment. Šišić was subsequently arrested in Hungary in 2001 and extradited to Italy, where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 2006, he was turned over to Serbia for the remainder of the sentence, but was released in 2008. Two other Yugoslav officers were tried in absentia in Italy and convicted in 2013, while Serbia was ordered to pay monetary damages to the victims' families. The victims were posthumously decorated by Italy and France. Background 1991 Yugoslav campaign in Croatia In 1990, following the electoral defeat of the government of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, ethnic tensions worsened. The Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) confiscated Croatia's Territorial Defence (Teritorijalna obrana - TO) weapons to minimize resistance.Hoare 2010 117 On 17 August, the tensions escalated into an open revolt by Croatian Serbs,Hoare 2010 118 centered on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the Dalmatian hinterland around Knin,The New York Times 19 August 1990 parts of the Lika, Kordun, Banovina and eastern Croatia.ICTY 12 June 2007 Following the Pakrac clash between Serb insurgents and Croatian special police in March 1991,Ramet 2006 384–385 the conflict had escalated into the Croatian War of Independence.The New York Times 3 March 1991 The JNA stepped in, increasingly supporting the Croatian Serb insurgents.Hoare 2010 119 In early April, the leaders of the Croatian Serb revolt declared their intention to integrate the area under their control, known as SAO Krajina, with Serbia.The New York Times 2 April 1991 In May, the Croatian government responded by forming the Croatian National Guard (Zbor narodne garde - ZNG),EECIS 1999 272–278 but its development was hampered by a United Nations (UN) arms embargo introduced in September.The Independent 10 October 1992 The Brioni Agreement established an observer mission which was eventually called the European Community Monitor Mission (ECMM). The mission was tasked with monitoring the disengagement of belligerents in the Ten-Day War in neighbouring Slovenia,Ahrens 2007 43 and the withdrawal of the JNA from Slovenia.O'Shea 2005 16 However, on 16 August, an ECMM helicopter was hit by Croatian Serb gunfire in western Slavonia, injuring one of the pilots.Mesić 2004 236 This caused the ECMM's scope of work to be formally expanded to include Croatia on 1 September.Miškulin 2010 310 On 8 October, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia,Narodne novine 8 October 1991 and a month later the ZNG was renamed the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska - HV).EECIS 1999 272–278 The fiercest fighting of the war occurred around this time, when the 1991 Yugoslav campaign in Croatia culminated in the Siege of Dubrovnik,Bjelajac Žunec 2009 249–250 and the Battle of Vukovar.The New York Times 18 November 1991 In November, Croatia, Serbia and the JNA agreed upon the Vance plan entailing a ceasefire, protection of civilians in specific areas designated as United Nations Protected Areas, and the presence of UN peacekeepers in Croatia.Armatta 2010 194–196 The ceasefire came into effect on 3 January 1992.Marijan 2012 103 In December 1991, the European Community (EC) announced its decision to grant formal diplomatic recognition to Croatia as of 15 January 1992.The New York Times 24 December 1991 Incident 250px|left|thumb|Austrian Armed Forces radar plot of the incident. Toponyms marked are Čakovec, Varaždin and Grana. On 7 January 1992, a pair of Italian Army Agusta-Bell AB-206L LongRanger helicopters operated by ECMM observers entered Croatian air space from Hungary.Nacional 14 November 2006 The helicopters were painted white and unarmed.Ripley 2013 9 They were flying from the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade to Zagreb via Kaposvár, Hungary.Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 Authorities in Belgrade claim the helicopters were authorised to fly to Hungary, but that the pilots were warned they were not allowed to fly to Zagreb because no flights in Croatian airspace were permitted.Politika 23 November 2006 The EC dismissed those claims, saying that the flight was approved in advance by Yugoslav air controllers.Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 The approval was forwarded to the Yugoslav Air Force operations centre, but the order was never forwarded to the 5th Aviation Corps in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Nacional 14 November 2006 250px|right|thumb|An Italian Army Agusta-Bell AB-206 similar to the one involved in the incident After the two helicopters were spotted by a Yugoslav Air Force tracking radar near Bihać, a pair of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, which were on standby at the Željava Air Base near Bihać, were ordered to take off and intercept the aircraft.Politika 23 November 2006 The MiG-21s, assigned to the 125th Squadron of the 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment,Jutarnji list 7 January 2012 were piloted by Lieutenant Emir Šišić and Captain Danijel Borović.European Parliament 1992 H-0278/92 However, Borović declared that his aircraft had a problem with its engine, and Šišić took off alone. Šišić was guided to the incoming helicopters at an altitude of 3000 m off, and then ordered to make a full circle with his jet. As he turned around, he spotted the helicopters flying below his plane, at an altitude of 600 m off. Šišić requested further orders and was told to shoot the helicopters down.Politika 23 November 2006 The order was issued by the duty officer at the Željava Air Base, Lieutenant Colonel Dobrivoje Opačić.Novi list 27 May 2013 Šišić pursued the helicopters, firing shots in front of the helicopters, but his aircraft was not armed with tracer ammunition and the helicopter pilots were not able to observe that they were fired upon. Flying at a speed of 1000 kph knots off, he switched to missiles and registered that the missile seekers had acquired the targets.Politika 23 November 2006 Šišić fired two infrared homing R-60 missiles.Nacional 14 November 2006 One of the missiles flew between the two helicopters, while the other struck the engine of the lead helicopter.Politika 23 November 2006 The helicopter was shot down near the village of Podrute, located in an area administered by the city of Novi Marof, north of Zagreb.Novi list 27 May 2013 The second helicopter had to crash-land to evade the attack.Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 Aftermath Five ECMM observers were killed in the attack, including four Italians and one Frenchman.Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 The victims were Lieutenant Colonel Enzo Venturini, helicopter pilot, Staff Sergeant Marco Matta, co-pilot, Sergeant Major Fiorenzo Ramacci, Sergeant Major Silvano Natale, and Ship-of-the-line Lieutenant Jean-Loup Eychenne.EUROMIL 2012 The Italian personnel were drawn from the 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel". The second helicopter carried a diplomat and three Italian ECMM observers, none of whom were harmed.Novi list 27 May 2013 The crash site was toured by the police, ECMM staff and journalists,RFE 14 May 2008 and EC representatives visited Belgrade to receive a report on the incident from Yugoslav authorities. The action of the Yugoslav Air Force was condemned by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe,Politika 23 November 2006 the United Nations Security Council,Bethlehem Weller 1997 3 and the EC Council of Ministers. The Italian ambassador to Yugoslavia was recalled to Rome for consultations. Subsequently, Italy cancelled an air traffic agreement with Yugoslavia, causing Jat Airways to cancel Belgrade–Rome flights.Bellucci Isernia 2003 215 In addition, ECMM operations were suspended for several days.Lucarelli RSC 1995 20 Yugoslav Ministry of Defence announced that it had initiated criminal proceedings against an officer, with four other officers facing military disciplinary action.Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 The commander of the Yugoslav Air Force, Colonel General Zvonko Jurjević was suspended.Bethlehem Weller 1997 xxxiii The federal defense minister, General Veljko Kadijević officially apologized for the incident and resigned his post.Glaurdić 2011 280 Šišić was court-martialled in Belgrade in 1992, and acquitted based on claims that he shot at a ZNG helicopter illegally escorting the two ECMM helicopters.Nacional 14 November 2006 In a 2008 interview, Šišić claimed that the ECMM helicopter crashed after being hit by a fireball caused by the exploding third helicopter.Politika 13 May 2008 His account is contradicted by crash scene eyewitnesses,RFE 14 May 2008 as well as Željava Air Base radar data, both of which indicate that only two aircraft were flying to Zagreb.Politika 23 November 2006 Šišić and Opačić were tried in absentia in Croatia, and both were convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Borović, who defected to Croatia a month after the attack, testified against Šišić.Nacional 14 November 2006 Šišić was arrested by Hungarian police at the Horgoš–Röszke border crossing on 9 May 2001.Politika 13 May 2008 His extradition was requested by both Croatia and Italy. He was ultimately extradited to Italy in June 2002, where he was subsequently tried, convicted, and sentenced to 15 years in prison for five counts of homicide and causing an aircraft disaster. In 2006, he was transferred to Serbia for the remainder of the prison term.Nacional 14 November 2006 He was released by Serbian authorities in May 2008.Gros-Verheyde Nicolas 2012-01-17 The first "died on mission" of the EU, it was 20 years ago - B2 Le Quotidien de l'Europe geopolitique https://www.bruxelles2.eu/en/2012/01/tribute-to-the-first-dead-on-a-mission-to-kill-on-a-mission/ 2023-07-18 B2 Le Quotidien de l'Europe géopolitique en 28 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241028234636/https://www.bruxelles2.eu/en/2012/01/tribute-to-the-first-dead-on-a-mission-to-kill-on-a-mission/ dead In 2013, the Appeals Court in Rome tried Opačić, General Ljubomir Bajić, commander of the 5th Aviation Corps, and Colonel Božidar Martinović, head of the Yugoslav Air Defence operational centre in Belgrade in absentia for the attack. Opačić and Bajić were convicted and each sentenced to 28 years in prison, while Martinović was acquitted. The court also ordered Serbia to pay compensation to families of those killed in the attack, in the provisional amount of 950,000 Euros.Novi list 27 May 2013 In a 2008 interview, Šišić said he regretted the deaths of the crew but felt no remorse for his actions.Politika 13 May 2008 On 25 May 1993, Italy posthumously decorated the four Italian ECMM observers killed in the attack with the Gold Medal of Military Valor, and the surviving three Italians aboard the second helicopter with the Silver Medal of Military Valor.Gazzetta Ufficiale 25 May 1993 Eychenne was posthumously promoted to lieutenant commander effective 7 January 1992, and attributed Mort pour la France on 14 April of the same year. He was decorated as the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.Marine nationale (French Navy) 13 January 2012 The incident is commemorated annually in Podrute and the ceremonies held there are regularly attended by representatives of the Croatian government and military, representatives of Italian and French Armed Forces, along with European Union, French and Italian diplomats.Dubrovački vjesnik 7 January 2010 Footnotes 20em References Books and journal articles 2 https://books.google.com/books?id=b3fLRcHYSVAC Diplomacy on the Edge: Containment of Ethnic Conflict and the Minorities Working Group of the Conferences on Yugoslavia Geert-Hinrich Ahrens Woodrow Wilson Center Press Washington, D.C. 2007 978-0-8018-8557-0 https://books.google.com/books?id=pXygFoqg-G0C Twilight of Impunity: The War Crimes Trial of Slobodan Milosevic Judith Armatta Duke University Press 2010 978-0-8223-4746-0 Durham, North Carolina https://books.google.com/books?id=RsY3pK_993EC International Public Opinion and the Bosnia Crisis Richard Sobel Eric Shiraev Robert Shapiro Lexington Books Lanham, Maryland 2003 978-0-7391-0480-4 Massacring in Front of a Blind Audience? Italian Public Opinion and Bosnia Paolo Bellucci Pierangelo Isernia 173–218 The 'Yugoslav' Crisis in International Law: General Issues, Part 1 https://books.google.com/books?id=7SczBzxA6-IC Daniel L. Bethlehem Marc Weller Cambridge University Press Cambridge, England 1997 978-0-521-46304-1 Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative https://books.google.com/books?id=t0nYdgFrdG8C Charles W. Ingrao Thomas Allan Emmert The War in Croatia, 1991–1995 Mile Bjelajac Ozren Žunec Purdue University Press 2009 978-1-55753-533-7 230–271 West Lafayette, Indiana Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States 1999 https://books.google.com/books?id=qmN95fFocsMC EECIS 1999 Routledge 978-1-85743-058-5 London, England https://books.google.com/books?id=-TTJ6y_o7ysC The Hour of Europe: Western Powers and the Breakup of Yugoslavia Josip Glaurdić Yale University Press 2011 978-0-300-16629-3 New Haven, Connecticut https://books.google.com/books?id=oFXdiS25N78C Sabrina P. Ramet Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989 Cambridge University Press 2010 978-1-139-48750-4 The War of Yugoslav Succession Marko Attila Hoare Marko Attila Hoare 111–136 Cambridge, England Lucarelli RSC 1995 https://books.google.com/books?id=r-KFAAAAIAAJ The International Community and the Yugoslav Crisis: A Chronology of Events Sonia Lucarelli Robert Schumann Centre European University Institute Florence, Italy 1995 34091158 Review of Croatian History Croatian Institute of History 1845-4380 http://hrcak.srce.hr/84984?lang=en The Sarajevo Ceasefire – Realism or strategic error by the Croatian leadership? Davor Marijan 7 1 May 2012 103–123 https://books.google.com/books?id=mButzsYUurkC The Demise of Yugoslavia: A Political Memoir Stjepan Mesić Stjepan Mesić Central European University Press Budapest, Hungary 2004 978-963-9241-81-7 Journal of Contemporary History Croatian Institute of History 0590-9597 42 2 October 2010 Ivica Miškulin hr "Sladoled i sunce" – Promatračka misija Europske zajednice i Hrvatska, 1991.–1995. "Ice cream and sun" – European Community Monitor Mission and Croatia, 1991–1995 299–337 http://hrcak.srce.hr/63646?lang=en https://books.google.com/books?id=KoHQEEDzL5AC The Modern Yugoslave Conflict 1991–1995: Perception, Deception and Dishonesty Brendan O'Shea Routledge London, England 2005 978-0-415-35705-0 https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building And Legitimation, 1918–2006 Sabrina P. Ramet Indiana University Press 2006 978-0-253-34656-8 Bloomington, Indiana https://books.google.com/books?id=LVedfFzBtSwC Conflict in the Balkans 1991–2000 Tim Ripley Osprey Publishing Oxford, England 2013 978-1-4728-0383-2March 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes News reports 2 RFE 14 May 2008 14 May 2008 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/article/1115823.html bs Slučaj Šišić ponovo uzburkao javnost Šišić Case Stirs Public Again Ankica Barbir-Mladinović Maja Nikolić Zoran Preradović Radio Slobodna Evropa The Independent 10 October 1992 The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/croatia-built-web-of-contacts-to-evade-weapons-embargo-1556500.html Croatia built 'web of contacts' to evade weapons embargo Christopher Bellamy 10 October 1992 Novi list 27 May 2013 Novi list 27 May 2013 http://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Svijet/Duznosnicima-JNA-po-28-godina-za-rusenje-helikoptera-EEZ-a hr Dužnosnicima JNA po 28 godina za rušenje helikoptera EEZ-a JNA Officials Sentenced to 28 Years Each for EEC Helicopter Shootdown Šarlota Brnčić 4 October 2013 31 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200831130247/https://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Svijet/Duznosnicima-JNA-po-28-godina-za-rusenje-helikoptera-EEZ-a/ dead Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 Los Angeles Times 12 January 1992 EC Rejects Yugoslav Version of Copter Downing Reuters https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-12-mn-427-story.html The New York Times 3 March 1991 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html Stephen Engelberg Belgrade Sends Troops to Croatia Town 3 March 1991 Politika 23 November 2006 Politika 26 November 2006 http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Hronika/t12807.lt.html Raketa pogodila motor Rocket Struck Engine sr Milan Galović The New York Times 24 December 1991 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/24/world/slovenia-and-croatia-get-bonn-s-nod.html Slovenia and Croatia Get Bonn's Nod Stephen Kinzer Stephen Kinzer 24 December 1991 20 June 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120620034701/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/24/world/slovenia-and-croatia-get-bonn-s-nod.html Nacional 14 November 2006 Nacional (weekly) 14 November 2006 Srpski pilot ubojica pred pomilovanjem Serbian Killer Pilot Awaits Pardon http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/29074/srpski-pilot-ubojica-pred-pomilovanjem Davor Pašalić hr 9 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130822075740/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/29074/srpski-pilot-ubojica-pred-pomilovanjem 22 August 2013 dead The New York Times 19 August 1990 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/world/roads-sealed-as-yugoslav-unrest-mounts.html Reuters Roads Sealed as Yugoslav Unrest Mounts 19 August 1990 Jutarnji list 7 January 2012 Jutarnji list 7 January 2012 Kako su 1992. poginuli promatrači Europske zajednice. 'Pilotu jugoslavenskog MIG-a 21 časnik je naredio: Oderi ga!' hr How Did the European Community Monitors Die in 1992: An Officer Ordered Yugoslav MiG-21 Pilot: Whack him! http://www.jutarnji.hr/obiljezena-20--godisnjica-pogibije-europskih-promatraca-u-podrutama/998220/ Luka Špac 9 January 2012 3 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222408/http://www.jutarnji.hr/obiljezena-20--godisnjica-pogibije-europskih-promatraca-u-podrutama/998220/ dead Dubrovački vjesnik 7 January 2010 Dubrovački vjesnik 7 January 2010 Komemoracija za promatrače EZ poginule 1992. hr Commemoration for the EC Observers Killed in 1992 http://dubrovacki.hr/clanak/15469/komemoracija-za-promatrace-ez-poginule-1992 Luka Špac 4 October 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230723/http://dubrovacki.hr/clanak/15469/komemoracija-za-promatrace-ez-poginule-1992 4 October 2013 dead The New York Times 18 November 1991 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/18/world/croats-concede-danube-town-s-loss.html Croats Concede Danube Town's Loss Chuck Sudetic 18 November 1991 The New York Times 2 April 1991 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html Rebel Serbs Complicate Rift on Yugoslav Unity Chuck Sudetic Chuck Sudetic 2 April 1991 Politika 13 May 2008 Politika 13 May 2008 http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/SHishic-Zalim-zbog-poginulih-u-helikopteru.lt.html Šišić: Žalim zbog poginulih u helikopteru Šišić: I Regret Deaths of the Helicopter Crew sr Danijela Vukosavljević Other sources 2 EUROMIL 2012 http://www.euromil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:20-anniversary-of-the-european-community-monitor-mission-helicopter-downing&catid=14:current-news&Itemid=26 20th anniversary of the European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing EUROMIL 2012 4 October 2013 5 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305124433/http://euromil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:20-anniversary-of-the-european-community-monitor-mission-helicopter-downing&catid=14:current-news&Itemid=26 dead Marine nationale (French Navy) 13 January 2012 http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/biographie/biographie-du-lieutenant-de-vaisseau-jean-loup-eychenne Marine nationale (French Navy) 13 January 2012 Biographie du lieutenant de vaisseau Jean Loup Eychenne Biography of the Ship-of-the-line Lieutenant Jean Loup Eychenne fr 4 October 2013 7 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160607231448/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/biographie/biographie-du-lieutenant-de-vaisseau-jean-loup-eychenne dead Narodne novine 8 October 1991 http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1991_10_53_1265.html Narodne novine 53 1333-9273 hr Odluka Decision Narodne novine d.d. 8 October 1991 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090923040416/http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1991_10_53_1265.html 23 September 2009 European Parliament 1992 https://books.google.com/books?id=DzqJAAAAMAAJ Official Journal of the European Communities: Debates of the European Parliament, Issues 417-418 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities Luxembourg 1992 Gazzetta Ufficiale 25 May 1993 http://www.anae.it/docs/14-decorati.html it Gazzetta Ufficiale Ricompense al valor militare Awards for Valour 25 May 1993 120 9 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120303073328/http://www.anae.it/docs/14-decorati.html 3 March 2012 dead ICTY 12 June 2007 The Prosecutor vs. Milan Martic – Judgement http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/tjug/en/070612.pdf International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 12 June 2007 Category:Air-to-air combat operations and battles Category:20th-century aircraft shootdown incidents Category:Croatian War of Independence Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1992 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving helicopters Category:1992 conflicts Category:1992 disasters in Croatia Category:Foreign relations of the European Union Category:Military history of Italy Category:Military history of France Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Croatia Category:January 1992 in Europe Category:Croatia and the European Union Category:Monitoring missions of the European Union Category:Military history of the European Union Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Bell 206