M-NAV’s Management Board Chair and Executive Director, Fahrudin Hamidi, addressed a press conference on Friday regarding what he described as an “unfortunate event” and a “conflict between two coworkers.” He conveyed that a Security Committee had been convened to investigate the attack on M-NAV’s staff, refraining from further comments in the interest of the ongoing investigation. Hamidi also stated his intent to remain in his position, citing positive achievements during his tenure.

Regarding the incident, Hamidi mentioned it as an unexpected clash between two coworkers who had a long-standing history, having known each other for two decades and attended school together. He declined to demand accountability for the incident, indicating that authorities were already engaged in an investigation that involved internal cameras and other pertinent factors.

Emphasizing the safety of Macedonian skies during the altercation, Hamidi attributed the conflict to personal matters and affirmed the involved individuals were M-NAV employees. He accused the union leader, Tasevski, of pursuing personal motives, damaging the company’s reputation through false accusations, and acting out of self-interest.

Hamidi went on to criticize Tasevski, alleging nepotism within the union leader’s own family and defending recent job competition results and employments contested by the union. He expressed the company’s openness to audits from various institutions, defending the legitimacy of their recent recruitment processes.

Highlighting his accomplishments within M-NAV, Hamidi mentioned overcoming financial losses independently, contrasting it with European air traffic controls that received external assistance. He also mentioned imminent recertification aligned with EU regulations and the upcoming launch of a new system despite financial constraints.

Hamidi defended the company’s training initiatives, stressing the importance of having both experienced and new staff in Air Traffic Control for the citizens’ benefit. He regretted not addressing the public earlier due to handling other significant matters.

The press conference followed an incident where several individuals breached the M-NAV air traffic control facility and assaulted staff. The Ministry of Interior reported the questioning of a person related to the attack, with eight individuals allegedly connected to the incident, four already interviewed by the police.

Earlier announcements indicated that the government planned discussions on Jan. 9 to address the situation at M-NAV, potentially involving the dismissal of all managers and management board members. In response, Tasevski mentioned the possibility of a general strike on Jan. 10 if the directors did not resign or if the government failed to dismiss them as announced.