Senior Republika Srpska official and personal pilot to Milorad Dodik found dead

Police officers from the Banja Luka Department and a duty prosecutor are currently conducting an on-site investigation. While initial unconfirmed reports suggested the cause of death was hanging, subsequent unofficial accounts have indicated the use of a firearm. As of midnight, the Ministry of Interior had issued no formal statement regarding the passing of the department head, and the entity’s public broadcaster, RTRS, had notably omitted the story from its coverage despite widespread reporting across regional media.

A distinguished aviation career tied to entity leadership

Kusturic, born in Banja Luka in 1974, was a prominent figure in the region’s aviation sector. A graduate of the Military Academy in Belgrade, he served as a pilot in the Army of Republika Srpska between 1997 and 2005. His career progressed through the Civil Aviation Directorate, where he led the Search and Rescue Helicopter Unit, before he was appointed director of the RS Helicopter Service in 2008.

In April 2025, the Helicopter Service was dissolved and restructured into the current Aviation Department under the Ministry of Interior, with Mr Kusturic remaining at the helm. Beyond his administrative duties, he was widely recognised as the personal pilot for Milorad Dodik, frequently flying the RS President on official and regional engagements.