Two dead in ultralight plane crash in Croatia's mountains

Two individuals lost their lives after their ultralight aircraft crashed in a remote, mountainous region of Croatia's Paklenica National Park. The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) located the aircraft's remains in a forested area, confirming the deaths of both occupants, whose identities have not yet been released.

The aircraft, identified as a Diamond HK-36TC-100 Super Dimona, had departed from the Czech Republic and was en route to Zadar, Croatia. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane on Friday afternoon when it was approximately 20 kilometers from its destination, over the Velebit mountain range.

Rescue efforts, involving around 40 personnel, were hampered by adverse weather conditions, including rain, low cloud cover, and storms affecting the Zadar and Velebit areas. While the official cause of the accident remains undetermined, local media reports suggest that challenging meteorological conditions may have contributed to the crash.

This incident is not the first of its kind in Croatia this year, with a previous ultralight crash in June resulting in the deaths of four Austrian citizens. The investigation into the latest accident is ongoing.