Small Plane Crashes in Croatia, Killing 4 Austrian Men

A small plane crashed near an airport on the northern Adriatic coast of Croatia on Wednesday (June 5), killing all four people on board, all of whom were Austrian nationals, according to Croatian officials. The Associated Press reported that Croatian authorities confirmed the nationality of two of the victims. The Austrian Press Agency (APA), citing the country's foreign ministry, stated that all four deceased were Austrian citizens. Alana Vukic, director of Croatia's Air, Maritime and Railway Traffic Accident Investigation Agency (AIN), told media that the German-registered small aircraft was flying from Linz, Austria, to the town of Medulin on the Istrian Peninsula in northwestern Croatia when it crashed in the area on Wednesday morning. Croatia's state-run Hina News Agency, quoting Vukic, reported that all four victims were male and their bodies had been recovered from the wreckage. Croatia's National Fire Association earlier posted on social media that the accident occurred near the airport and that firefighters and emergency medical teams had arrived at the scene. Vukic stated that the AIN is in contact with the Austrian Embassy and will release a preliminary investigation report within 30 days, adding, "We will cooperate with the Austrian authorities." She said investigators are on site, but because the small plane did not have a black box, the investigation into the cause of the accident and related circumstances will take several months.