Ankara: Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, has announced the tragic crash of a firefighting plane, resulting in the death of its pilot. The aircraft was returning from Croatia when the incident occurred.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Yumakli revealed the details of the crash through a post on the Turkish social media platform "Ins Social." The firefighting plane, operated by the General Directorate of Forestry, lost contact during its return flight from Croatia to Turkey. The plane's wreckage was subsequently discovered near the city of Senj in western Croatia.

The Minister explained that two AT802 aircraft were stationed in Croatia for scheduled maintenance. Both planes were temporarily grounded at Rijeka Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Although they initially attempted to fly to Zagreb Airport, the persistent weather issues forced them to return to Rijeka.

Yumakli further shared that while one of the planes successfully landed at the airport, communication with the other was lost later in the evening. Search and rescue teams, in coordination with Croatian authorities, ultimately found the plane's wreckage and the pilot's body near Senj.