MOD on fallen helicopter part

Yesterday, 13 August 2012, because of the numerous fires along the coastal areas, all available fire-fighting forces of the Croatian Air Force were intensively engaged all day.

During extinguishing the fire on Sestrunj Island, a helicopter fire-fighting bucket was damaged. Helicopter crews stopped with the extinguishing and returned with damaged bucket to the airport in Zemunik Donji, where the bucket was replaced and the crew continued to extinguish the fire on Sestrunj Island with another bucket.

In the evening, the second helicopter which was transporting canadair crews, took over the damaged bucket and from 19.00 to 20.00 hrs made a flight to home heliport in Divulje.

During the flight crew avoided flying over residential areas and houses.

During the flight between Primošten and Marina, because of the heavy air traffic, and in accordance with the instructions of the Croatian air traffic control, helicopter crew had to move to the south side of the main road towards the Marina and when it was flaying next to Svinac, a part of the damaged fire-fighting bucket fall off.

The part that has fallen off is placed on the bottom of the bucket, and serves as a platform for hauling fire-fighting bucket with a forklift. Given that the helicopter on the Divulje helipad landed in the dark, the crew did not know or notice that a part of the damaged fire-fighting bucket has fall off since it was not possible to visually determine that the part came off.