Tragic Incident Near Croatian Coast
A Turkish firefighting aircraft, an Air Tractor AT-802, crashed in western Croatia on Thursday, November 13, 2025, resulting in the death of its pilot. The incident occurred near the coastal town of Senj, where the wreckage was later discovered in a wooded area. The plane belonged to Türkiye's General Directorate of Forestry and was on a maintenance flight when it went down.
Flight Path and Adverse Weather Conditions
The ill-fated aircraft was one of two AT-802 planes that had departed from Çanakkale, Turkey, on Wednesday, November 12, with a destination of Zagreb, Croatia, for scheduled maintenance. Due to unfavorable weather, both planes were forced to make an overnight stop at Rijeka Airport. On Thursday, November 13, they resumed their journey towards Zagreb, but worsening weather conditions compelled them to turn back towards Rijeka. While one aircraft successfully landed at Rijeka Airport, radio contact with the second plane was lost at approximately 6:25 p.m. local time (18:25 Turkish time).
Pilot Identified and Official Condolences
The pilot killed in the crash has been identified as Hasan Bahar. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı confirmed the tragic event, stating, 'The wreckage of our General Directorate of Forestry firefighting plane, which lost radio contact in Croatia, has been found near the city of Senj, Croatia. I pray for Allah's mercy on our pilot, who was martyred in this tragic accident, and extend my condolences and patience to his family and loved ones.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also extended their condolences to the pilot's family and the nation.
Broader Context and Investigation
This incident follows another recent aviation tragedy involving Turkey, as a Turkish military cargo plane crashed in Georgia just two days prior, killing 20 service members. Authorities in both Turkey and Croatia are coordinating efforts to investigate the precise cause of the firefighting plane crash. The AT-802 aircraft type is commonly utilized for agricultural purposes and firefighting, capable of carrying approximately 3,000 liters of water and performing water scoops from various bodies of water.
5 Comments
Donatello
Two crashes in two days for Turkey. What's going on?
Leonardo
The Air Tractor AT-802 is a workhorse, but flying a single-engine plane on a maintenance journey in bad weather is inherently risky. We need to honor the pilot while also scrutinizing operational protocols.
Michelangelo
It's incredibly sad to lose a pilot, especially during a maintenance flight. However, the decision to proceed despite worsening weather conditions needs a thorough review.
Habibi
Prayers for Hasan Bahar and his loved ones. Heartbreaking.
Bella Ciao
Deepest sympathies to the pilot's family. A true hero.