Borsó Hill Covered in Snow and Grief

Twenty years passed since the Hejce air disaster

Text: Levente Petróczy | Photo: Ákos Pintér | 16:04 January 21, 2026

“Twenty years after one of the most tragic events of the Slovak nation, this year we gathered together again to commemorate those soldiers who, after their heroic performance, did not return home to hug their loved ones. We are commemorating 42 comrades who could not receive the deserved appreciation for their unselfish service, with which they contributed to keeping the peace in Kosovo. Soldiers, who are dead heroes of the Slovak Republic and the NATO military alliance, and are mourned by their homeland and, with deep condolences, our country as well”, said MoD State Secretary for Force Development and Defence Policy Dr. Zsolt Kutnyánszky in Hejce on 19 January.

The Borsó Hill towering above Hejce went down in the annals of Slovak military aviation forever on 19 January 2006. On that frosty winter day, 43 Slovak soldiers were on board the An-24 aircraft, with tail number 5605, heading for Košice from the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Pristina. Tragically, 42 out of them never returned home because the aircraft, leaving the Hernád valley, drifted above the Zemplén Mountains and crashed into the 755 m tall Borsó Hill. Only one soldier survived the disaster.

Each year, on the anniversary of the accident, a joint Slovak–Hungarian commemoration takes place, where, besides remembering the dead heroes, the cooperation during the rescue process is also recalled. On the evening of the tragedy, not only Hungarian and Slovakian search and rescue teams helped, but nearly 300 inhabitants of Hejce, as well.

“That night, exemplary cooperation could be seen. The two nations tried to help shoulder to shoulder. The inhabitants of the small village of Hejce opened up their homes to the arriving Hungarian and Slovak units, proving that humanity, solidarity and helpfulness prevail across borders”, said Dr. Zsolt Kutnyánszky.

In Hejce, two memorials have been erected for the heroic soldiers. Following the traditions, superiors’ speeches, wreath-laying and candlelight vigil were held at the memorial in the centre of the village.

General Daniel Zmeko, Chief of Defence of the Slovak Armed Forces, said in his commemorative speech that the disaster from 20 years ago has been deeply engraved in memory as not only soldiers, but husbands, wives, siblings, mothers and fathers lost their lives. Those who died on Borsó Hill made the ultimate sacrifice for their country – besides the high-level task execution –, they gave their lives for it.

“I would like to give thanks to the Hungarian Defence Forces Defence Staff, soldiers and last but not least to the mayor and inhabitants of Hejce for the respect and love with which they have taken care of this memorial. The anniversary of the accident is not only the day of mourning but also the day of commemoration, gratitude and silent hope. Hope that we will respect each other and live responsibly, knowing how valuable each day received as a gift is”, concluded his thoughts General Zmeko.

In answering our question, General Gábor Böröndi told us that when he had been informed about the tragedy 20 years ago, he had asked himself, “Can this indeed happen?” “It was a piece of news hard to digest, for me and the whole Hungarian Defence Forces as well. Those soldiers who lost their lives at Hejce did not die in a firefight, among battlefield conditions, but in an air disaster, a few kilometres from their homeland. It is our duty to pay tribute to their memory”, recalled the Chief of HDF Defence Staff.

The commemoration continued with a Slovakian-language church service, then, led by the two chiefs of defence, the participants went up the Borsó Hill on foot to the memorial, where wreaths were laid and candles were placed at the headboards symbolizing the 42 victims.