The circumstances of the accident are still unknown, but according to some reports at the time the plane took off from Bovec and headed for Brnik a weather front bringing strong rain was crossing the area. Shortly before 8 p.m., i.e. just before the plane disappeared from radar screens, a mayday call was issued, Dean Božnik, the spokesman of the Nova Gorica Police Administration explained. The Mayday call was intercepted by two larger planes which were at that time flying in the vicinity.
A search action was initiated, supported by a military and a police helicopter, and with the mountain rescuers from Tolmin and Bovec. The firefighters from Bovec joined the search action immediately, and helped the Police secure the area.
The wreckage of the plane was found shortly before 1 a.m. in a difficultly accessible area of the Mrzla dolina valley at the foot of the Krasji vrh. None of the three passengers survived the crash. The commander of the Bovec Firefighters Association Miro Bozja said for TV Slovenija that their bodies will be recovered from the wreckage today.
The Piper Warrior plane was owned by the Propilot company from Domžale, the owner Primož Lajevec confirmed for STA. The plane was generally intended for training purposes, but on Thursday afternoon Lajevec lent it to a friend. The three passengers flew to Bovec in the afternoon, went canyoning, which took longer than planned, and at 5.35 p.m. started the return flight to Brnik.
The investigation continues
According to the report by Radio Koper, they were most likely caught by the weather front, and they failed to get through. Some pilots believe that the accident was caused by the formation of ice on the wings, just as it happened in the plane crash near Ajdovščina in July, when four German citizens died.
The pilot of the plane was the 31-year old motor aircrafts sport flying instructor with a recently obtained professional licence. The three people aboard were allegedly from the Murska Sobota area, and the flight a birthday present, Radio Koper reports.
The last plane crash with a casualty in the Posočje region happened less than three years ago, when the pilot and the passenger died in the crash of the ultralight plane.
The Police have secured the plane crash scene. The reasons for the crash will be known once the ongoing investigation is completed.
B. R., Sa. J.
Translated by G. K.
