UH-1Y Venom Helicopter Crashed in Czech Republic; One Killed

A UH-1Y Venom helicopter crashed in the Czech Republic, killing one service member and injuring four others.

The loss was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.

According to preliminary reports, the helicopter crashed while landing from a height of about 50 meters.

The UH-1Y Venom crash occurred on July 23 at the 22nd Helicopter Aviation Base in Náměšť nad Oslavou.

The Czech Army UH-1Y helicopter after the crash. July 23, 2026. Photo credits: Lukas Kabon

“It was a training flight,” said Petr Sliva, commander of the 22nd Helicopter Aviation Base, commenting on the circumstances of the tragedy.

The Czech defense ministry noted that all the circumstances of the crash will be determined once the investigation is complete, when conditions at the crash site permit.

While the investigation is ongoing, the Czech Army has suspended the operation of all UH-1Y Venom helicopters.

“It was a new helicopter. We acquired it under a contract signed in 2019. So, this is a loss of equipment,” said Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna.

The UH-1Y Venom is a twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter as part of a program to modernize the UH-1 family for the U.S. Marine Corps.

In 2024, the Czech Republic received the final batch of UH-1Y Venom multi-purpose helicopters, completing the contract for their procurement.