turkish Firefighting Plane Lost Contact, Crashes Off Croatian Coast
ZAGREB, CROATIA – August 18, 2023 – A Turkish firefighting aircraft participating in efforts to combat wildfires in Croatia went missing Thursday evening after losing radio contact wiht ground control at 6:25 p.m. local time. The incident occurred off the Croatian coast, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation coordinated between Turkish and Croatian authorities.
One Turkish plane successfully completed a landing, but the fate of the second remains unknown as rescue teams scour the Adriatic Sea. The loss of the aircraft underscores the risks inherent in battling the intense blazes that have gripped parts of Southern Europe this summer, and highlights the international cooperation crucial to containing them. Croatia, like many nations in the region, has been battling severe wildfires exacerbated by prolonged heatwaves and dry conditions.
Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry confirmed the loss of contact and the launch of search and rescue efforts. As of this report, the location of the crash and the condition of the crew are still undetermined. The operation is ongoing, with both nations dedicating resources to locate the downed aircraft and any potential survivors.
