Crash helicopter Mali by technical failure

07-05-2015 19:48

A failing component in the operating system has probably led to a Dutch Apache attack helicopter recently crashed in Mali. This is the conclusion of the preliminary investigation that Defense has carried out into the circumstances, State cabinet in a letter sent today to the House of representatives has.

By the crash on 17 March, two Dutch soldiers killed. Their device crashed during a shooting exercise. Netherlands does since mid-2014 MINUSMA along with the UN Mission in the African country, with approximately 450 soldiers. There are four Apaches with it.

Defense guessed all that there was a technical defect. The Ministry is now awaiting final measures of Boeing, the manufacturer of the Apache. In anticipation of this, it is removed from all 28 specific part all Dutch Apaches.

All Apaches since the accident are on the ground and continue that until the problem is resolved. Flight safety is paramount, says a spokeswoman.

Aandeel
Het kabinet is tevreden met de Nederlandse bijdrage aan de missie, die vooral tot doel heeft om inlichtingen te verzamelen. De Nederlanders hebben volgens de vier betrokken ministers 'een wezenlijk aandeel' gehad in het opzetten van een moderne inlichtingenketen.

Tegelijk wijzen ze erop dat de veiligheidssituatie in delen van Noord-Mali de afgelopen maanden is verslechterd. Ook VN-eenheden werden doelwit van jihadisten. Er is nu meer aandacht voor beveiliging.

Het kabinet besluit later over een mogelijke verlenging van de missie na 2015.