"A Kiowa OH-58 D helicopter crashed near Zlarin Island and Zablace during a training flight on Monday January 27, 2020 at 10:30 [09:30 GMT]," a Defence Ministry statement read.
In a later statement, the Ministry confirmed that one of the two crew members on board the helicopter had died in the crash. A search rescue involving Croatian Air Force and Coastguard personnel is ongoing, the ministry stated.
At 14:30 local time [13:30 GMT], the Ministry of Defence will hold a press conference to discuss the incident.
The Croatian military received 16 Kiowa Warrior helicopters from the United States' military surplus. The final delivery of 11 helicopters was received in December 2016, with the US donating the equipment to bolster Croatia’s air capabilities.
