Croatian Air Force Trainer Plane Crashes, Two Dead

Croatian Air Force’s twin seater training aircraft crashed in the southwest of the country today, killing both pilots.

The defence ministry said in a statement that Zlin 424L, tail number “403” crashed  near Zadar AF base at around 4 p.m. local time Thursday during a routine training flight.

According to the ministry, the deceased were a flight instructor and a cadet, who were flying a small Zlin aircraft. The accident happened at near the village of Biljane Donje.

Photos from the scene show the small plane’s wreckage plunged in a bush near the walls of what appears to be a private house.

The defence ministry has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The Zlín Z 42 is a single-engine two-seat Czechoslovakian trainer aircraft manufactured by Moravan Otrokovice. It was purchased by the Croatian air force as a basic trainer for its air force.

The country has been trying to modernize its air force by replacing Soviet-era aircraft. However, a deal to buy used F-16 jets from Israel was stalled by the United States.