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Veteran Ukrainian Helicopter Pilot Recounts Harrowing South Sudan Mission
For veteran Ukrainian helicopter pilot Captain Serhiy Muzyka, what was intended as a routine UN mission in South Sudan became an extraordinary and perilous ordeal. Nearing retirement after 43 years of piloting helicopters, including service in the Soviet and Ukrainian armies and various contract roles, Captain Muzyka faced a situation far more dramatic than any training exercise. This near-fatal incident in South Sudan unfolded when a standard operation for the United Nations transformed into a desperate fight for survival under heavy gunfire.
Routine Operation Turns Deadly
What appeared to be a standard mission for the UN earlier this month devolved into a life-threatening situation for the 60-year-old pilot. Captain Muzyka, despite extensive military service spanning 20 years in the Ukrainian army including deployments to Afghanistan and other hazardous locations, and numerous private contracting roles in danger zones such as a 2015 plane crash rescue in Somalia, considered this South Sudan mission his most unforgettable.
Mission to Nasir Base and Onset of Chaos
The assignment was to evacuate injured soldiers from a military base in Nasir, situated in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state. Upon arrival, a sudden shoot-out erupted at the base, tragically resulting in the deaths of a crew member and over two dozen South Sudanese soldiers on the ground. Captain Muzyka himself sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, yet miraculously managed to pilot the heavily damaged helicopter to safety.
Escape Under Fire: A Close Call
A brief video recorded by Captain Muzyka on his phone from the cockpit revealed a scene of carnage: bloodied controls, a shattered windscreen, and the pilot himself wounded. He and his co-pilot navigated the crippled aircraft across the scrubland for almost an hour to reach the closest airport. “It was like a movie,” he recounted to the BBC, visibly still traumatized by the events. “I initially believed it was a nightmare,” added the pilot, an employee of Ukrainian Helicopters.
UN Mission Details and Escalating Tensions
On the day of the attack, Ukrainian Helicopters was contracted by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to evacuate six wounded soldiers, including a general, and two UN negotiators. UN peacekeepers are deployed in the region to uphold a fragile peace agreement amid growing concerns that the nascent nation is teetering on the brink of renewed civil war.
Fragile Peace in South Sudan
The first civil war, commencing three years post-independence, lasted five years and resulted in nearly 400,000 fatalities. The conflict primarily involved forces loyal to President Salva Kiir against those of Vice-President Riek Machar, with both leaders drawing support from their respective ethnic groups. A peace accord was established in 2018, intended to integrate rival factions into a unified national army.
Nasir County Clashes and Deep-Seated Distrust
Recent armed confrontations in Nasir county reveal profound tensions stemming from the stalled integration of forces. This region is a stronghold of the White Army militia, which supported Machar during the civil war. Local communities harbor distrust towards regular army units, perceived as loyal to Kiir, and have consistently demanded the deployment of the newly formed unified force.
Troop Deployment and Base Seizure
However, the deployment of additional regular army soldiers last month into the area was denounced by Machar as a violation of the ceasefire and transitional agreement, igniting further animosity. While Kiir’s faction described the deployment as routine troop rotation, the situation rapidly deteriorated when the White Army seized the army base on March 4th. This event necessitated the urgent deployment of Captain Muzyka and his team to rescue trapped soldiers.
Previous Successful Extraction
Prior to the disastrous second attempt, the crew had successfully completed one extraction mission on March 6th, rescuing ten individuals after landing at a designated UN point. Returning the following day, March 7th, the operation initially proceeded as planned until passengers began to board. Suddenly, gunfire erupted, plunging the scene into utter confusion.
Under Attack: Pilot’s Instincts Take Over
Captain Muzyka’s first indication of grave danger was the sight of blood oozing from his left arm. Moments later, flight attendant Sergii Prykhodko, positioned in front of the chief UN negotiator, was struck by gunfire. Recognizing they were under attack, Captain Muzyka’s military training kicked in. “Shooting commenced from the front, right, and then left back. I made the immediate decision to take off,” he recounted.
Rapid Takeoff and Sustained Fire
As the helicopter ascended, Captain Muzyka witnessed soldiers collapsing outside. “The time elapsed between the initial gunfire and takeoff was perhaps just a tiny fraction of a second,” he estimated. Even airborne, the helicopter continued to be struck, and alarmingly, the fuel tanks were punctured. The urgent objective was to reach Malakal airport, the regional capital, an hour away. The cockpit situation was precarious.
Emergency Flight and Grim Realities
“Critical systems were damaged, including the main gearbox,” Captain Muzyka explained, acknowledging the imminent threat of a crash landing throughout the flight. He opted to fly at maximum speed and minimal altitude: “The oil temperature was critically high, at its maximum, so I maintained an altitude of just 100 meters [328ft] above ground level.” This low-level flight profile, according to his calculations, maximized the chances of a rapid emergency landing within 20 seconds if needed.
Crew Response and Harrowing Journey
Captain Muzyka directed his crew to scan for open clearings devoid of trees and bushes, prepared for a forced landing. Simultaneously, the flight engineer applied a tourniquet to the captain’s wounded arm using his own shirt to staunch the bleeding. The video clip captured the makeshift bandage tightly bound above his elbow, with blood visible on his lower arm, trousers, and cockpit area.
Co-pilot Injury and Final Approach
The video also captured a trickle of blood on Captain Muzyka’s forehead, before shifting to the shirtless crew member and the co-pilot, who had also sustained injuries. “He was experiencing pain in his right side,” Captain Muzyka noted. “Fortunately, it was a minor injury caused by plastic splinters from the right window.” Approaching Malakal airport, they encountered a new complication: the front wheel of the helicopter was jammed, damaged during the attack.
Successful Landing and Aftermath
Despite these challenges, Captain Muzyka executed a successful landing 49 minutes after taking off amidst gunfire, the helicopter riddled with over 20 bullet holes. “It was an immense relief,” he admitted to the BBC. It was only upon landing that the pain from his arm injury truly registered. The ordeal felt so unreal, he momentarily questioned if he was still dreaming.
Prior Combat Experience and UN Recognition
Reflecting on his extensive military flying history, Captain Muzyka recalled only one previous instance of hostile fire – in Afghanistan in 1987. “I saw a couple of bullets pass through the rotor blades during a night flight. That was the extent of it, until now.” Upon arrival at Malakal, immediate medical attention was provided to the crew and passengers.
Tragic Loss and International Condemnation
Tragically, despite efforts, 41-year-old Mr. Prykhodko succumbed to his injuries. “We were devastated,” the captain expressed. Subsequently, the Ukrainian Helicopters crew were feted at a ceremony and awarded the UN medal of honor. The UN mission head stated that the attack “may constitute a war crime under international law.”
Personal Toll and Future Outlook
The loss of their colleague has deeply affected the crew, compounding their anxieties regarding family members in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russian forces. Captain Muzyka has returned to Ukraine seeking medical treatment and to reunite with his family. Looking to the future, he expresses hope that “common sense will prevail,” and though retirement is approaching, his passion for flying remains undiminished: “I still feel young because I can fly.”