Turkish firefighting plane crashes in Croatia, pilot dies
A Turkish firefighting plane crashed in western Croatia on Thursday, resulting in the death of the pilot, as confirmed by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı.
The Air Tractor AT-802 disappeared from the radar shortly before 5 p.m. local time, a Croatian Interior Ministry statement said. Some 20 minutes later, emergency services were informed that a plane was on fire near the town of Senj, close to the Adriatic Sea coastline, the statement said, News.Az reports citing Turkish media.
Rescue teams found the pilot's body after they extinguished the fire, Croatia's HRT public broadcaster said. No one else was on the plane, the report added.
The aircraft was one of two planes belonging to Türkiye's General Directorate of Forestry that were in Croatia for maintenance.
A statement by the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said the planes spent the night in the port city of Rijeka due to meteorological conditions.
They took off on Thursday for the capital Zagreb but had to reverse course due to adverse weather. One aircraft landed successfully, but radio contact was lost with the other, the statement said.
Yumaklı confirmed the wreckage had been reached.
"I wish God's mercy upon our martyred pilot, and extend my condolences and patience to his family and loved ones. Condolences to our forestry organization and our nation," the minister wrote on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
Air Tractor AT-802 planes are usually used in agriculture or for firefighting.
The can carry about 3,000 liters of water and are capable of capable of landing and taking off on water.
They can scoop water from seas, lakes, or dams and repeatedly intervene in fire zones in short intervals. They are especially effective in mountainous and difficult terrain.
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