December 6, 2022 - A MiG crash occured near Slatina, close to Daruvar in eastern Croatia. Both pilots have now been found and are both in a stable condition. It is not yet clear what caused the accident.

The criminal military police and the chief aviation military investigator will conduct an investigation into the crash of the two-seater MiG, it was said at the Ministry of Defense's press conference, where it was also pointed out that the pilots had reported certain problems in the operation of the engines.

Index reports minute-by-minute, with the most recent updates on top.

8 pm

Banožić: The fall of the MiG showed that the army is ready for challenging tasks

Defense Minister Mario Banožić said that fortunately both pilots were found alive and that the incident showed the readiness of the Croatian Army to successfully perform its tasks despite challenging moments and the state of the equipment.

5:43 pm
Aircraft located using modern technology

"At the moment, it is not possible to access the area where the plane fell. It is a dense forest and scrub, it is in an area between two hills, and the plane broke in half. Part of it burned, only the tail remained.

The head of the Virovitica-Podravina Police Department and the head of the police service for public order and peace, together with the firemen, were the first to reach the place where the plane crashed and began extinguishing it. One pilot was found by emergency police officers and a local resident who helped him. The second pilot made it to the house near the accident by himself.

The crash site is secured by the military police," ICV journalist Tomislav Maloča told N1.

He adds that the pilots were transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Zagreb.

The plane was located using modern technology to locate the last trajectory that the plane itself sent.

5:25 pm
President Milanović also responded

"At this moment, the most important thing is that both pilots of the Croatian Air Force are alive and that there are no victims or injuries at the place of the plane crash, as well as no damage to citizens' property. I wish the injured pilot a speedy recovery. I am in constant contact with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Admiral Robert Hranj, who informs me of the situation. I expect that the circumstances and the reason for the crash of the MiG-21 aircraft will be determined as soon as possible," said President Zoran Milanović, reports N1.

4:50 pm
Witness: The pilot came out of the forest disoriented. He said he didn't remember anything

A Croatian Air Force MiG-21 plane crashed 10 kilometres from Voćin on difficult-to-access terrain, a little before 2:00 p.m. today. After a large search in which all emergency services participated, both pilots were found alive.

4:38 pm

HGSS: The plane has also been found

"Both pilots and the plane they were looking for have been found in the vicinity of the municipality of Voćin," HGSS writes.

4:19 pm

Both pilots were found, announcement by the Ministry of Defense

Both pilots from the two-seater MIG 21 fighter plane of the Croatian Air Force were found alive. During its fall, the pilots successfully ejected and landed, the Ministry of Defense reported in the afternoon.

The pilots are in a stable condition, out of danger and will be transported to the hospital for a medical examination. They successfully ejected from the two-seater MIG-21 aircraft, which crashed during a planned training activity near Slatina, and landed. Two Croatian Air Force Mi-171 helicopters, members of the Military Police Regiment and an unmanned aerial vehicle were immediately sent to the scene of the accident for search and rescue purposes.

The operational forces of the civil protection system were also engaged: State Civil Protection Intervention Units, firefighters, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, and police officers and hunters were sent to the field. The Ministry of Defense will inform the public about the details in a timely manner.

4:02 pm 
In the last 12 years, there have been six major accidents involving MORH aircraft

A MiG-21 of the Ministry of Defense crashed today near Voćin, which was s the seventh accident involving a Ministry of Defense aircraft in the last twelve years.

3:59 pm
Vidović: This is why we had to buy new planes

While the Chairman of the Committee, Franko Vidović, said that the case showed the justification of buying new aircraft.

3:56 pm
The second pilot was also found, he is alive

The second pilot was also found. He is injured, but alive, Index learned unofficially.

3: 53 pm
Search dogs also looking for the pilot

Mateja Fras Venus, commander of the Virovitica-Podravina County Fire Brigade, revealed to N1 what wass known thus far about the MiG crash. "We have information that the MiG fell in the area of the Virovitica-Podravine County, specifically the Voćin Municipality. Firefighters are on the ground, as well as rescue teams and K-9 teams with dogs. We are currently inspecting the area, combing and looking for the crew," she said. One part of the field is less accessible because it is a hilly area, she explained.

3:31 pm
HGSS announced that they are also searching for the missing pilot

"The Požega, Bjelovar and Orahovica stations are participating in the search for the aircraft in the Virovitica-Podravina County, while the Zagreb, Zlatar Bistrica, Varaždin, Čakovec, Novska, Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci and Osijek stations are arriving," HGSS announced.

3:12 pm

The government confirmed minister Banožić is going to the site of the MiG crash.

The government confirmed that the Minister of Defense Mario Banožić and the Chief of the General Staff, Hranj, and the Director of HRZ Križanec, are going to the site of the MiG crash.

They state that Banožić is going to the crash site in agreement with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who is in Tirana.

3:02 pm
Sačić called on Banožić to resign

Parliamentary representative of the Croatian sovereignists and member of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense Željko Sačić commented on the fall of the MiG, stating that the Minister of Defense Mario Banožić should resign.

Sačić reminds that former minister Damir Krstičević resigned in a similar situation.

3 pm 
One pilot has been found, the search started for the other

As a well-informed source confirmed to Index, one pilot was found after he ejected and radioed in.

The other pilot is being sought.

2:56 pm
Selak for Index: I assume that some technical problem happened, I have information that both pilots ejected

Index contacted the famous military pilot Ivan Selak about the MiG crash near Slatina.

"It is certain that an investigation will now follow. I learned that both pilots had ejected. I guess there was some technical problem. But anything is possible, for example a bird flying into the engine. According to what I know, both pilots ejected," Selak told Index.

"As for the planes, it doesn't matter whether they are new or old. There are no old or new planes, but functioning or malfunctioning ones. There is no way that someone authorized a flight on a malfunctioning plane. Crashes of F-35 planes have even happened, the latest models," added Selak.

2:54 pm
Banožić and Hranj go to the crash site of the MiG

As Index learned, Minister of Defense Mario Banožić and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia Robert Hranj are going to the crash site of the MiG.

2:41 pm
The Ministry of Defense speaks.

"A Croatian Air Force MIG-21 plane crashed during a scheduled training activity on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, before 2:00 p.m. in the area near Slatina in the Virovitica-Podravina County.

All measures and actions were taken in order to find and save the crew, the Ministry of Defense reported. The MIG crashed in an uninhabited wooded area in the Virovitica-Podravina County," the Ministry of Defense announced.

2:40 pm
A MiG crashed near Voćin, an HV (Croatian Army) helicopter went towards the crash site

As Index learned, the MiG crashed somewhere near Voćin, between Daruvar and Slatina, in the Virovitica-Podravine County.

As we know, a helicopter of the Croatian Army went towards the crash site.

It is expected that the police and HGSS will soon join the search.

2:20 pm
A MiG crashed near Daruvar

So far, it is only known that a MiG crashed near Daruvar and that the search for one of the two pilots is ongoing.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed the information.

This article will be updated continuously.

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