The last salute to Major Mehic and Captain Djukaric

Today, in Novi Sad and Mosorin, pilots Major Omer Mehic and Captain Milovan Djukaric, who were killed in the helicopter crash near Nikola Tesla Airport during a rescue action of a baby, were buried with military honors.

Several thousand people paid their last respects to the two SAF pilots. The funerals of Major Mehic and Captain Djukaric were attended by their families, friends and colleagues, and also by Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, Head of the General Staff of Serbia General Ljubisa Dikovic, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic, Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Ranko Zivak and advisor to the President of the Republic Milorad Simic.

- Omer never refused any task, no matter how demanding it may have been, he liked a challenge. To fly or not to fly was never a question for him, and for this he was extraordinarily courageous. A true greatness of a man, a man of a great heart that will remain as such in the memory of thousands of people he rescued – Major Slavko Bojic said while paying last respects to Omer Mehic on behalf of MoD and SAF members.

Brother of the killed pilot Milovan Djukaric received the flag of the Republic of Serbia, as a token of memory and eternal gratitude of the state for all Milovan had done for it.

Aviation major Mehic Ramiz Omer, pilot-in-command, was born on July 24, 1967 in Doboj. He held the duty of the assistant commander for transport and search and rescue, and was also a flight instructor in the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron of the 204th Aviation Brigade. He had been in the Armed Forces since July 21, 1990. He graduated from the Military Aviation Academy in Zadar, throughout which he was a helicopter pilot. He had the title of a senior flight instructor of 1st category combat training. He was trained for piloting HT-40 and HT-48. He and his family lived in Novi Sad.

Djukaric Ostoja Milovan, pilot, aviation captain, was born on July 22, 1982 in Novi Sad. He was a pilot in 1st helicopter squad of the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron of the 204th Aviation Brigade. He had been in the Armed Forces since September 16, 2005. He graduated from the Military Academy, Aviation Department, in 2005. He was a pilot of 4th category technical-combat training.