Large drone crashes in Croatia after apparently flying from Ukraine over several NATO countries – ABC News

A Soviet-era reconnaissance drone flying across Hungary from Ukraine has crashed near the Croatian capital of Zagreb, leaving a big hole in the ground, the Croatian government says.

A statement issued by Croatia’s government said the “pilotless military aircraft” crashed seven minutes after entering Croatia’s airspace from neighbouring Hungary at a speed of 700 kilometres per hour and an altitude of 1,300 metres.

An explosion was heard near Lake Jarun in Zagreb at around 11pm on Thursday. Police said several vehicles had been damaged and two parachutes found.

The government said an official criminal investigation will be launched and NATO will be informed about the incident.

Hungary’s Defence Ministry said that the Tupolev TU-141 drone was detected by radar in Hungarian airspace. It had been detected over Ukraine and then it entered Hungary via Romanian air space.

“Under continuous monitoring and controls from the time when it entered Hungary, it left Hungarian air space,” the ministry said, adding that there was a similar event on Friday in the north-east of Hungary when Gripen fighter jets belonging to Hungary checked but found no trace of any flying objects.

“Due to the Ukraine military conflict it is especially important that we handle such events calmly,” it added.

Wide hole in ground where a drone crash landed.
Croatia closed its airspace after the crash.(Reuters: Antonio Bronic)

Military experts of The War Zone online magazine said the “Strizh” reconnaissance drone must have suffered a severe malfunction.

It said Ukraine is the only known current operator of the Tu-141, having bought part of its old fleet out of retirement when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said “the serious incident” must be thoroughly investigated to determine “how a relatively unsophisticated drone flew for over an hour over NATO countries without being detected.”

“We estimate that this was an incident and it was not (military action) directed against Croatia,” Mr Milanovic said.

He said the drone crashed in Zagreb after running out of fuel.

Investigation launched into “serious” incident

The Croatian Defence Minister and the army chief of staff both described the drone incident as “serious,” but said more details will be revealed after the ongoing investigation.

The two officials told a news conference that Croatia responded by closing its airspace.

They said they have been in contact with neighbouring countries and NATO and refused to reveal whose drone it was.

“I can’t even say it flew from Ukraine without detailed analysis.”

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a social media post on Friday that Hungarian authorities were also investigating the crash.

Zagreb mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said parts of the flying object were scattered in several locations.

He said authorities were working to determine how the incident happened but initial findings indicated it was an accident.

“No one was hurt and that is good fortune,” said Mr Tomasevic.

“It is a relatively big object … It is amazing that no one was hurt.”

A large rocket-powered unpiloted drone sitting in a field.
The drone is believed to be a Tu-141 from the 1980s, which only Ukraine is known to use.(Flikr: Alan Wilson)

Drone crash leaves large crater and metal debris

Croatian police said they came to the scene of the explosion on the outskirts of Zagreb after calls from local citizens.

They found a large crater and two parachutes in a wooded area. Some parked cars were damaged.

Photos from the scene show metal pieces of the wreckage scattered on the ground, a parachute hanging from tree branches and what seems to be a section of a wing.

Police sealed off the area of the blast for investigation.

The Tu-141 has parachutes used for soft landings.

Witnesses quoted by the media said they first heard a large explosion that rocked the ground, then a foul smell.

AP

Source