BUDAPEST, Hungary: In a tragic incident that unfolded on May 29, 2019, in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, a river cruise boat named the Viking Sigyn collided with another vessel, the tourist boat Hableany (Mermaid).
The devastating crash resulted in the loss of at least 27 lives, predominantly South Korean tourists, and left the world grappling with the profound impact of the disaster. On a fateful Tuesday, Yuriy Chaplinsky, the Ukrainian captain of the Viking Sigyn, was found guilty of negligence leading to this fatal mass catastrophe and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Captain jailed after fatal River Danube tour boat crash https://t.co/u1ZKrAy8jr
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 26, 2023
Judge Leona Nemeth, presiding over the case at the Pest Central District Court, ruled that Chaplinsky’s negligence was the root cause of the collision. The Viking Sigyn struck the Hableany from behind, causing it to sink into the Danube River within seconds. The collision occurred beneath Budapest’s Margit Bridge, and the subsequent sinking of the Hableany plunged the world into sorrow, especially the South Korean community.
While Chaplinsky was found guilty of negligence, he was acquitted of 35 counts of failure to render aid. It is noted that he retains the right to appeal this ruling. The collision remains a deeply somber memory, with seven South Koreans rescued from the water amidst heavy rain, and 27 individuals, including the two-member Hungarian crew, tragically lost their lives. Regrettably, one South Korean remains unaccounted for.
In the aftermath of the collision, recovery efforts were extensive, with some victims’ bodies found weeks later, over 100 kilometers downstream from the crash site. The Hableany remained submerged for over 12 days near the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament building before being lifted from the river bed by a floating crane.
Ukrainian captain sentenced to 5 1/2 years over deadly Budapest boat accident https://t.co/r9rfTQaOsL pic.twitter.com/bXP2SPc1Ef
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 26, 2023
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Chaplinsky, the captain of the Viking Sigyn, had been in police custody since the collision and had been under house arrest in Hungary since 2020. As part of his five-year sentence, the time he has already spent in custody will be taken into account.
In a poignant final statement before the verdict was delivered, Chaplinsky acknowledged the horrific nature of the collision and referred to it as a “horrible tragedy.” He expressed the lasting impact the event has had on him, noting that the deaths of “so many innocent victims” keep him awake at night. The gravity of the situation is something he recognizes will stay with him for the rest of his life.
During the reading of the verdict, three representatives from the South Korean Embassy in Budapest were present, demonstrating the international concern and involvement in this tragic case. However, no South Korean family members of the victims were in attendance during the hearing, underscoring the enduring pain and sorrow that lingers from this heart-wrenching event.
