Air crash survivor talks to press

MARTIN Farkaš, the only survivor of the January 19 air tragedy, which claimed 42 lives, spoke to the press yesterday for the first time since the catastrophe.

Farkaš, 27, came to the press conference with his wife Michaela, holding her hand as they came into the conference room, the daily SME reported.

The survivor said that he was feeling relatively well from a physical and psychological point of view. He expressed his deep sympathy for the tragic deaths of his fellow soldiers.

"I share the agony of my colleagues' families. I am sorry I am the only one who survived. Over in Kosovo we were very good friends and it makes me feel all the more sorry about what happened," said Farkaš, according to the SITA news agency.

He thanked the Hungarian rescuers who were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident and praised the professionalism and sensitivity demonstrated by the entire hospital staff in Košice that took care of him.

He refused to answer questions concerning the circumstances of the accident, however. He said he could recall very little about the accident. He said, however, that he was sitting at the back of the plane and was wearing a safety belt.

Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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