A MiG-21 LanceR fighter and an IAR-330 Puma helicopter, both from the Romanian Air Force, crashed this Wednesday afternoon (02). Seven soldiers (five from the Air Force and two from the Navy) who were on board the helicopter died.
The emergency started when the MiG-21 disappeared after reporting bad weather conditions. The pilot was returning to base when the Air Force lost with the old fighter plane.
The aircraft had taken off from Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in Constanța County, where it was to carry out a routine patrol mission. As soon as the aircraft disappeared, an IAR-330 helicopter took off from the same base to search for the missing MiG-21.
snow in the area pic.twitter.com/v7O6yk4Qnb
- OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 2, 2022
Shortly after taking off, the helicopter crashed in the Gura Dobrogei region, 11 kilometers from the air base. The crash site has already been located, as well as the bodies of the seven crew of the aircraft. The wreckage of the aircraft was recorded on video.
According to the Romanian portal G4Media, the crash site of the MiG-21 was also found, but there is still no information about the whereabouts of the pilot.
Security cameras recorded an explosion believed to be from the crash of the fighter jet. Images of the location have not been released so far.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense released the identity of the soldiers who were on board the IAR 330.
- Lieutenant Commander Bogdan Florin, 41 years old, pilot of the aircraft with more than 1500 flight hours and in the military since 2003. He was married and had three children.
- Lieutenant Pătrașcu Sorin, 27 years old, co-pilot. Had 500 flight hours, military since 2016. Single.
- Military foreman Banu Gelu, 53 years old, in the military since 1993. He had flown 1700 hours, was married and had two children.
- Corporal Lateș Cătălin, 29 years old, search and rescue operator. Military since 2021, married with two children.
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Sergeant Marinescu Ionuț, 44 years old, member of the medical team. Military since 2021, married and had a son.
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Military Foreman Class I Carp Vlad, 39 years old. Deep sea diver and lifeguard. He was married and had a child.
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Class II military foreman Bosoi Sergiu, 37 years old. Deep sea diver and lifeguard, military since 2005.
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Romanian President Klaus Iohannis mourned the tragedy and expressed condolences to the families of the dead soldiers.
“I express my deep regret and full comion for the loss of life of seven soldiers from the 57th Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base following the crash of an IAR 330 Puma helicopter in the area of Gura Dobrogei locality, Constanta county.
The helicopter was carrying out a rescue-evacuation mission for a MiG 21 LanceR aircraft when it disappeared from radar. On this tragic night for Romanian aviation, my thoughts go out to the bereaved families, pressured by this dramatic loss. I send my condolences and a lot of strength in these painful moments!”
The causes of the accident are not yet known, but it is possible that bad weather conditions may have played a role in the crash of the aircraft, notes the portal. The War Zone.
The accidents also occur in the midst of tensions caused by the war between Ukraine and Russia. Just yesterday a pair of fighter jets MiG-21 LanceR escorted a Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker upon his return to his country of origin. The aircraft had landed in Romania on the first day of the conflict. Romanian air bases are also being used by other NATO fighters, an organization of which Romania itself is a member.
