Two individuals died after a German-registered light aircraft crashed near the coastal city of Zadar, according to local media reports on Saturday.
Croatian authorities reported that the two‑seat motor glider, capable of powered flight or unpowered gliding, crashed in the Velebit mountain range on Friday.
The extensive, rugged Velebit range runs alongside the Adriatic coastline.
Authorities said the Diamond HK36 Super Dimona was traveling from the Czech Republic toward Zadar at the time of the accident.
Media reports indicated that contact with the aircraft was lost just after 4 p.m. local time (14:00 GMT/UTC).
Details Regarding the Croatia Plane Crash
Police confirmed that the wreckage, together with the two passengers’ bodies, was recovered following an extensive search.
Difficult terrain, combined with heavy rain, strong winds, and dense fog, extended the response time to nearly six hours.
Croatian outlet Jutarnji list reported that the mountain rescue agency described the conditions as “extremely difficult.”
The fog, which limited visibility to roughly 2 meters, also hampered the deployment of search drones, according to Jutarnji list.
The agency dispatched a 35‑person rescue team to the crash site, as reported by local media.
Authorities have not disclosed the victims’ identities or nationalities.
German news agency DPA quoted the Czech Foreign Ministry stating that the victims were not Czech citizens.
Edited by: Karl Sexton