Romania, Europe: A recreational ultralight aircraft crashed on Saturday, August 9, killing both men on board just minutes before reaching Arad International Airport.
Authorities said the crash occurred in the yard of a recently closed industrial facility in Arad, western Romania. The two victims were identified as a 47-year-old professional pilot from Bucharest and an 18-year-old passenger from Arad. Both died instantly from severe impact injuries, emergency responders confirmed.
The aircraft had departed from Siria airfield, located roughly 25 kilometers from Arad, and was approaching the airport when it went down only a few kilometers short of the runway. Witnesses told local media that the plane appeared to lose altitude abruptly before striking the ground.
The collision impact tore the aircraft apart, with parts scattered across the courtyard of the disused factory, which has been closed since June. Rescue teams found the engine several meters away from the fuselage. Security staff stationed at the site were the first to call emergency services. No injuries were reported on the ground.
The Romanian Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Center (CIAS) has launched a full inquiry into the cause of the accident. Investigators are examining possible technical malfunctions, weather factors, and pilot maneuvering in the final approach phase. The flight was purely recreational and not part of any scheduled air service. Preliminary findings indicate the aircraft was privately owned and in active use for sport aviation.
Romania has recorded several small aircraft accidents in recent years, often involving ultralight or sport planes operating outside commercial aviation regulations. Romania’s general aviation safety record is under fresh scrutiny following the Arad crash, which marks the country’s third small-plane fatal accident in less than a month. On July 15, a 59-year-old pilot was killed when his aircraft went down in Temes County, crashing near a water park in Săvârșin. Just five days later, on July 20, another fatal crash occurred on the Gura Portiței sandbar along the Black Sea coast.
As of Monday, August 11, the CIAS has not issued an official preliminary report, and the wreckage remains secured for forensic examination. Local prosecutors are also assisting in the investigation to determine whether any criminal negligence was involved.
