January 27, 2020 - A military helicopter has reportedly crashed into the sea off the island of Zlarin, according to a report from HINA.

Reports are still coming in, but it has been confirmed that the helicopter crashed into the sea at 11:06 this morning on a flight from Zablac to Zlarin. 

It is not known how many people were on board, though Šibenik.in has reported that the body of the helicopter crew member was pulled from the sea. A forensic unit also arrived in Zablace waterfront.

Two naval police boats have been dispatched to the scene. 

The Ministry of Defense held a press conference at 2:30 pm in Zemunik. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Damir Krsticevic, Chief of General Staff of the CAF General Corps Mirko Sundov and Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Michael Krizanec headed for Zemunik.  The Ministry of Defense confirmed that a Croatian Air Force pilot, a member of the Kiowa Warrior helicopter crew, was killed in a Kiowa Warrior helicopter crash into the sea in the Zlarin Channel in front of Zablace.

“There were two crew members in the Kiowa Warrior helicopter. An intensive search and rescue operation was launched for the other crew member, which included a Croatian Air Force helicopter and the Croatian Navy Coast Guard, as well as operational services of the Ministry of the Interior and a rescue ship from the Šibenik Harbor Master's Office. The Ministry of Defense, the Croatian Armed Forces, and the Croatian Air Force are deeply shaken by the unfortunate event and express their condolences to the family of the deceased member of the Croatian Air Force," said the MOD.

"For now, the Kiowa military helicopter with two crew members crashed for an unknown reason. All measures and actions were immediately taken to find and rescue the crew, and one pilot, who was found, had passed,” Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said at the press conference, expressing his deepest condolences to the family.

The helicopter was on a training flight, which started at 10:30. 

The helicopter, a Kiowa OH-58 D, had apparently recently been donated to the Croatian Army by the United States.

More on this story as we get it. 

Two persons were injured.

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