A tragic aviation accident has claimed the lives of two people after an ultralight aircraft crashed on Croatia’s Velebit mountain in the Paklenica area. The aircraft disappeared from radar on Friday afternoon, August 21, while flying from the Czech Republic toward Zadar. Croatian Air Traffic Control notified the Civil Protection Operations Center at around 4:14 p.m. after the aircraft’s signal was lost approximately 17 miles northeast of Zadar. A large search and rescue operation was immediately launched, involving police officers, firefighters, Civil Protection teams and members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service from Zadar and Gospić.
The search was complicated by extremely difficult weather and terrain. Strong winds, rain, thick fog and very poor visibility made an aerial search impossible at certain stages, while the mountainous landscape made reaching the suspected crash area particularly challenging. Additional Civil Protection teams from Split and Rijeka were also activated, bringing command vehicles, drones and equipment for night searches. After several hours of searching, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service members located the aircraft wreckage at around 10 p.m. in a difficult to access area of the Paklenica region. Two people were found dead inside the aircraft. Police from the Lika Senj Police Department secured the crash site overnight so investigators could safely examine the area. The official investigation began on Saturday morning. The aircraft was registered as D-KWZE and was traveling from the Czech Republic toward Zadar when contact was lost. Flight tracking information indicates that it was an ultralight aircraft of the HK36TC Eco Super Dimona type. Authorities are now examining the aircraft, crash site and available flight information to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
The crash occurred in one of Croatia’s most demanding natural environments. Velebit features steep and rugged terrain, forests and rapidly changing weather, while Paklenica is also a popular destination for hikers, climbers and other outdoor visitors. The difficult conditions faced by rescuers highlight the scale of the operation and the challenges involved in reaching the wreckage. For now, the search and rescue effort has ended with a devastating result, as two people have been confirmed dead and investigators begin working to establish what happened during the aircraft’s final moments.
