USA sends helicopters to assist endangered people in Montenegro

Podgorica, Montenegro (20 February 2012) – As a response to the request for help that the Montenegrin Government has submitted to NATO, the USA sent two Black Hawk helicopters and more than 40 support crew members. One of the Black Hawk helicopters is HH-60 medical evacuation aircraft, while the other is the other is a HH-60 lift helicopter.

Both helicopters are to assist the Government in distributing emergency supplies and provide rescue services, including medical evacuation of the population in the areas hit hardest by heavy snowfall.

The helicopters and the crew come from 1-214 aviation battalion of the 12th combat aviation brigade, the major aviation brigade of the US Army located in Katterbach, Germany.

The US mission to Montenegro is supported by the members of the 361st civil services department, a part of the 7th civil support command from Kaiserslautern in Germany.

The support crew, consisting of pilots, mechanics, and a command team, arrived in Montenegro yesterday and the helicopters are expected to arrive on Monday or Tuesday.

The engagement of US helicopters followed the helicopters’ support that Greece, Slovenia and Croatia previously provided with the aim of alleviating the negative effects of extreme weather in Montenegro.