LAST UPDATE | 3 Mar 2022

EIGHT MILITARY PERSONNEL have died after their helicopter and a fighter jet crashed in bad weather near the Black Sea in eastern Romania yesterday.

The EU member is on the front line to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank as Russia is invading neighbouring Ukraine and has seen international reinforcements arrive in recent weeks.

The IAR 330-Puma helicopter crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, 11km from the airfield, killing all seven aboard, the defence ministry said.

It was searching for the MiG 21 LanceR, shortly after the fighter jet – part of a formation of two MiG-21 LanceR planes performing air patrol missions – lost contact and disappeared from the radar.

Later yesterday, the fighter jet was also found, having crashed near Cogealac, an uninhabited area near the Black Sea, the defence ministry said.

The 31-year-old pilot died, it added.

“It is premature to discuss possible causes. Certainly, there were unfavourable weather conditions, but we can’t comment now,” spokesman General Constantin Spanu said on local television on Wednesday.

The helicopter pilot had reported adverse weather conditions and had been ordered to return to base, according to the ministry.

All IAR 330-Puma and MiG LanceR aircrafts will be grounded while the cause of the crash is under investigation.

On Thursday, military and religious commemoration ceremonies for the victims will be held in all Romanian military units.

President Klaus Iohannis in a statement late Wednesday sent his “thoughts to the bereaved families” of the crash victims on what he called “a tragic night for Romanian aviation”.

Romania, a former member of the communist bloc now part of NATO and the European Union, has seen tens of thousands of refugees arrive since Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine last week.

Over the past months of growing regional tensions, Romania has repeatedly demanded reinforcements be sent to NATO’s eastern flank.

- © AFP 2022