Army helicopter crashed in Croatia, third crew member found

The third member of the crew of the army helicopter that crashed in Croatia has been found, Hungarian News Agency MTI reports citing a statement by the Ministry of Defence. The body of the third soldier was found under the wreckage, while two of his companions were found on Wednesday, the day of the accident. The Airbus H145 helicopter crashed during a training exercise in the Čikola canyon, not far from Šibenik.

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at a press conference on Wednesday that the helicopter of the 86th Kiss József Helicopter Brigade of the Hungarian Defence Forces crashed in Croatia. On board the crashed helicopter were "soldiers with extensive experience in this type of exercise and soldiers undergoing training as well". For several years, the Hungarian soldiers had regularly participated in the exercise during which the accident occurred.

The Croatian and Hungarian authorities are jointly investigating the causes and circumstances of the accident. The wreckage and all recovered pieces found in the area will be collected and transported to Hungary for further analysis. The remains of the Hungarian soldier will be transported to Split, as were the remains of two of his companions found earlier.

Lieutenant General Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the Defence Staff, is also on the scene and met the soldiers on the ground. According to the ministry, all the personnel who participated in the training will return home in the next few days.

According to the Croatian press, the helicopter may have crashed due to a zip wire, but this has not yet been officially confirmed by either side. According to Croatian authorities, there was a zip wire on the route of the downed Hungarian Defence Forces helicopter, but it was marked on the map.