A MiG 21 LanceR aircraft and a helicopter, both equipped by the Romanian army, crashed (UPDATE)

Update 08: 35 - The plane that crashed near Cogealac, in an uninhabited area, was part of a formation of two MiG-21 LanceR planes that were performing air patrol missions over Dobrogea, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

All aircraft of the type involved in aviation disasters on the evening of March 2, MiG 21 LanceRor IAR 330 Puma, were recorded on the ground until the causes of the collapses were elucidated.

Update March 3, 02:00 - The pilot of the LanceR MIG-21 aircraft was found dead!

The pilot was 31 years old, married and had no children.

Since 2014, he has been a pilot in the 861st Air Combat Squadron at 86th Air Base at Borcea. It had accumulated over 570 flight hours, of which about 420 on the LanceR MiG-21.

Update March 3, 00:40 p.m. - The pilot of the MIG-21 LanceR aircraft catapulted. Ground searches are still underway to find the pilot.

Update March 2, 23:50 p.m. - The place where the MiG 21 LanceR plane crashed was found. So far, nothing is known about the pilot's fate, whether he managed to catapult himself.

Update March 2, 23:20 - New balance, 7 people were found dead in the wreckage of the helicopter.

Ministry of National Defense confirms that seven soldiers were in the crashed helicopter and that they all lost their lives:

Seven soldiers lost their lives in the plane crash in which the IAR 330-Puma helicopter was involved, on Wednesday, March 2. In addition to the five crew members initially notified, two rescuers from the Romanian Naval Forces had also boarded.

Who are the 7 people who died?

Lieutenant-Commander Bogdan Florin, a 41-year-old pilot who had been employed since 2003, had been flying for more than 1500 hours, was married and had three children.

Lieutenant Pătrașcu Sorin, co-pilot, 27 years old, employed since 2016, had 500 flight hours, unmarried.

Military foreman Banu Gelu, a 1993-year-old employee since 53, had more than 1700 flying hours, was married and had two children.

Corporal Lateș Cătălin, rescue search operator, 29 years old, employed since 2021, married and had two children.

Sergeant Marinescu Ionuț, medical staff, 44 years old, employed since 2021, married, one child.

Military foreman cls I Carp Vlad, 39 years old, marine diver, lifeguard at sea, married, a child.

Military foreman class II Bosoi Sergiu, 37 years old, marine diver, lifeguard at sea, employed since 2005.

Images from the crash site.

Update March 2, 23:40 - Images of the helicopter (source G4 Media). Unfortunately, there is nothing left of it!

Update March 2, 22:05 - The 5 soldiers on board the helicopter died, ISU sources told Digi 24.

Update March 2, 22:00 - Pictures of one of the collapses.

Update March 2, 21:50 - Communiqué of the Ministry of National Defense, Romania:

The IAR 330-Puma helicopter, which took off on Wednesday, March 2, around 20.21:21 p.m., in a search-and-rescue mission of the Mig 20.44 LanceR aircraft, lost its radio connection with the control tower and disappeared from the radar around XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
The pilot had reported adverse weather conditions and had been ordered to return to base.

The last known position of the helicopter, which had on board a crew of five soldiers, is the area of ​​Gura Dobrogei, about 11 km from the aerodrome. The condition of the crew or aircraft is unknown. And in this case, the search-and-rescue operations were launched.
There is no definite information yet about the MiG 21 LanceR pilot or aircraft.

We will come back with details.

Update March 2, 21:45 p.m. - A new ground search and rescue team has been sent.

Update March 2, 20:40 - The helicopter sent in search of the LanceR MiG 21 aircraft disappeared from the radar, the pilot reporting unfavorable weather. The search / rescue team consisted of five soldiers.

Initial news: A MiG 21 LanceR aircraft from the 86th Air Base, which was carrying out an air patrol mission over Dobrogea, lost its radio connection with the control tower. At 20:03, he disappeared from the radar, in an area between Cogealac and Gura Dobrogei.

The aircraft had taken off from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57, around 19:50. There are no data at this time on the condition of the pilot and the aircraft. Search-and-rescue operations have been launched as a matter of urgency.

An IAR-330 Puma helicopter took off urgently towards the area of ​​possible impact, and the ISU Dobrogea intervention crews set off towards this area.

We will come back with more information as soon as it is available