As Captain Serhiy Muzyka’s final deployment as a Ukrainian helicopter pilot came to an end, he faced his most dramatic and deadly mission yet in South Sudan.
The world of international humanitarian work is fraught with danger, and for Captain Serhiy Muzyka, a 60-year-old Ukrainian helicopter pilot, his final deployment before retirement was the most dramatic of his career. In South Sudan, what seemed like a routine operation turned into a terrifying and deadly situation.
A Legacy of Service
Muzyka’s military service spanned over 20 years in the Ukrainian army, including two decades serving in Afghanistan and other high-risk zones. His experience as a private contractor also included rescuing victims of a plane crash in Somalia in 2015. However, it was his recent mission to evacuate wounded soldiers from a military base in Nasir, South Sudan’s northern state of Upper Nile, that would test his skills like never before.
Under Attack
The UN Mission in South Sudan had contracted Ukrainian Helicopters to transport six injured soldiers, including one general, along with two negotiators. The first attempt on March 4th ended in a shoot-out at the base, claiming the lives of a crew member and over two dozen South Sudanese soldiers on the ground. Muzyka himself was shot in the arm but managed to lift off and steer the damaged helicopter to safety.
A ‘Movie’ Scenario
‘It was like a movie,’ he told the BBC, describing the chaos as he flew low over scrubland for nearly an hour to reach the nearest airport. The crew’s video footage captures the extent of the damage and the danger they faced, with the helicopter’s controls covered in blood and the windscreen shattered.
A Narrow Escape
The possibility of crash landing loomed large during the flight. Muzyka decided to fly as fast and as low as possible to perform an emergency landing within 20 seconds. The temperature of the oil was critical, and he flew just 100m above ground level to achieve this. He also asked his crew to scan for clearings in case one was needed.
A Tragic Loss
Despite their bravery, the crew suffered a tragic loss when Sergii Prykhodko, the flight attendant, died from his injuries. The incident has left the crew grappling with the reality of war and its devastating consequences.
Sergii Prykhodko is a Ukrainian politician and former member of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.
Born in 1957, he served as a deputy from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc party.
Prykhodko was involved in various parliamentary committees, including those on foreign affairs and defense.
His political career spanned over two decades, with his last term ending in 2012.
A Call for Peace
For Muzyka, this experience serves as a reminder of the importance of common sense prevailing in the world. As he heads into retirement, he still feels young and eager to fly, but the memories of this daring rescue mission will stay with him forever.
