ZAGREB, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Croatian authorities launched a search and rescue operation on Friday afternoon after an ultralight aircraft flying from the Czech Republic toward the Croatian coastal city of Zadar went missing, the country's Civil Protection Directorate said.
"Due to unfavorable weather conditions, an aerial search of the area is currently not possible," the directorate said.
Croatia Control, the country's air navigation service provider, notified the Civil Protection Operations Center after the signal from the aircraft, registered as D-KWZE, was lost at around 4:14 p.m. local time (1414 GMT), according to the directorate.
The signal was lost 17 miles (about 27 km) northeast of Zadar, the directorate said.
The Civil Protection Operations Center launched a search and rescue operation, deploying civil protection personnel from Zadar and Gospic, police officers, firefighters and teams from the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS).
Civil protection intervention units from the Croatian cities of Split and Rijeka were also activated, along with a command vehicle, drones and equipment for nighttime searches, the directorate said.
An operational base was established at the HGSS station in Starigrad Paklenica, in the Zadar region, to coordinate the search.
Croatian news outlet 24sata reported, citing unofficial information, that two people were on board the aircraft.
Around 25 HGSS rescuers were on the ground, with additional personnel ready to be deployed if necessary, the outlet quoted HGSS officials as saying.
