German-registered light plane crashes in Croatian mountains, killing two

Flight disappearance over the Velebit range

On Friday afternoon, a German-registered light aircraft vanished from radar screens while en route from the Czech Republic to the Croatian coastal city of Zadar. Croatian air traffic controllers recorded the final contact with the two-seat Diamond HK-36TC-100 Super Dimona motor glider at 16:14 CEST. The aircraft was flying over the rugged Velebit mountain range, approximately 60 kilometres northeast of its planned destination, when the signal ceased. Severe meteorological conditions were reported across the region at the time of the flight, including heavy rainfall, low cloud bases, and convective storm cells over the mountain passes. Air traffic officials immediately sounded the alarm, prompting regional emergency agencies to prepare a coordinated response.

Search operation in Paklenica National Park

Emergency responders organized a multi-agency search effort that included civil protection units, local fire brigades, and specialized alpine search teams. The operation brought together between 35 and 40 mountain rescue specialists from the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service branches in Zadar and Gospić. Search efforts faced difficult conditions on the ground, with dense fog reducing horizontal visibility to 50 metres across the steep, rocky slopes. Rescuers navigated the difficult terrain on foot through dense woodland and heavy rain throughout the evening hours. The operation reached its conclusion six hours after the initial alert when ground teams discovered the downed aircraft.

Police officials confirmed the end of the operation in an official communication released following the discovery.

The search for the missing ultralight plane was concluded around 10pm when members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service found the plane and two dead persons.

Discovery of wreckage and victim status

Rescue workers located the wreckage of the Diamond HK36 Super Dimona in a wooded sector within the boundaries of Paklenica National Park. The bodies of both occupants were found at the crash site alongside the fragmented fuselage. Croatian police confirmed the German registration of the aircraft through its tail number, though authorities did not immediately release the names or official nationalities of the victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic stated that neither of the two individuals on board held Czech citizenship. Police forensics teams secured the perimeter overnight and scheduled their detailed on-site investigation for Saturday morning.

Investigation and regional aviation record

Croatian aviation safety investigators have launched an inquiry to establish the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash. While official findings have not been released, local reports pointed to the severe storm systems and limited visibility over the Velebit mountains as primary factors under review. Investigators plan to analyze flight records, atmospheric data, and physical evidence recovered from the Paklenica crash site. The incident marks another fatal ultralight aviation accident in Croatian airspace in 2026. Earlier in June, four Austrian nationals lost their lives when another ultralight aircraft crashed in the country. Safety authorities and police teams are working to recover remaining flight components to conclude the initial phase of the investigation.