Tragic Private Plane Crash in Croatia Claims Lives of Three Dutch Nationals

Three Dutch nationals were killed in a plane crash in Croatia after the aircraft went down over the mountain range, Mala Kapela.

Details about the pilot and two passengers’ nationalities were confirmed by the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs on May 21, 2023.

According to the Croatia’s chief aviation inspector, Danko Petrin, the Cirrus SR 20 aircraft, suffered extensive fire damage following the crash with DNA testing required to identify the victims.

Irena Golubić Rajković, from the County State Attorney’s Office in Karlovac, said the plane took off from Maribor on May 20, 2023, at 11:21 am before crashing at around 12:30pm.

Petrin said the cause of the aircraft’s crash is under investigation and dismissed speculation in the media saying that bad weather was the cause.

“We need to get air traffic control data, the communication they had with the pilot, radar, and other data, and then we will get a complete picture and, hopefully, an answer to the question of what and why it happened,” Petrin said.

According to Vijesti, Irena Golubić Rajković confirmed that the aircraft was Dutch registered and was not on the Croatian register of planes.

It is understood that the wreckage will be moved on May 21, 2023, after evidence gathering at the scene has been completed.