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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_A ... nts.5B7.5D (yes, Wikipedia...Croatian minister says probe under way into crash of two MiG-21 planes
Posted 09:16 AM ET
Sep 23, 2010 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - Defence Minister Branko Vukelic said on Thursday afternoon
that a commission of inquiry had been set up to establish the causes of the crashes of two Croatian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft earlier in the day.
Both pilots ejected.
"Fortunately, both pilots survived the accident, and they are now on the way to the hospital.
I hope they are well," the minister said entering the government's building for a meeting of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor's cabinet.
Vukelic said that as soon as the commission had the first findings, they would be made public.
Asked how many aircraft remained in the Croatian Air Force, the minister said that there were SIX PLANES now.
"We have enough airplanes to protect and control our air space," he said.
The accident occurred shortly before 1pm at the Eugen Kvaternik training ground outside Slunj, about 80 kilometres south of Zagreb, during a military exercise.
An eye-witness at the site of the crash at the Hum hill near the village of Licki Podhum said that the planes collided in the air.
Source: HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 1310 gmt 23 Sep 10
BBC Mon EU1 EuroPol ny
) states: . Subject to confirmation of course...108 and 120 crashed near Slunj on 23 September 2010 after a collision over Vukelići village, both pilots ejected safely
17. 02. 11. - 16:00
MIG planes that crashed in September collided in air
Croatian Times
The two Croatian MIG-21 fighter planes that crashed last September fell because they collided, the official investigation has concluded.
The two fighter aircrafts crashed on September 23 last year during an exercise on the military range "Eugen Kvaternik" near Slunj (central Croatia).
Both pilots managed to eject themselves safely from the planes, but a 69-year-old onlooker was seriously injured by the debris.
The inquiry committee has concluded that the cause of the accident was a collision between the two aircrafts caused by bad weather conditions and the non-compliance of the group leader and the first follower with the prescribed exercise procedures.
The committee also determined that the pilots were not adequately trained, not having completed a sufficient number of flight hours, the daily Vecernji List writes.
The current committee was in charge of determining the causes of the crash and not the exact responsibility of those involved. A new committee is likely to be formed to deal with that question.
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