Eight military personnel died after their helicopter and fighter jet crashed on Wednesday in bad weather in eastern Romania near the Black Sea, marking the worst day of air force accidents in recent years.
The EU member is on the front line to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank as Russia is attacking neighbouring Ukraine and has seen international reinforcements arrive in recent weeks.
The IAR 330-Puma helicopter crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, 11 kilometres (seven miles) 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 Wednesday, the fighter jet was also found, having crashed near Cogealac, an uninhabited area near the Black Sea, the defence ministry said.
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