Commander Aurelian Cojocaru, pilot of the IAR 99 Soim aircraft that crashed near Craiova on Thursday morning, died and Lieutenant Commander Mihail-Relu Ioana, instructor, was wounded.

Commander Cojocaru was the chief of section for Test, Navigation and Meteorology Pilots and had over 900 flight hours on this type of aircraft. He was 48, was married and had one child.

Lieutenant Commander Mihail-Relu Ioana is an instructor and test pilot of 35, with over 700 flight hours on this type of aircraft. He is married and has one child.

The IAR 99 Soim aircraft of the Research and Trial Flights in Craiova crashed shortly after taking off, about 500 meters away of the northern end of the airstrip, around 10.30, on Thursday, 23 August.

There will be no more flights with this type of aircraft until the investigation team establishes the causes of the accident.

The leadership of the Ministry of National Defence expressed the deep regret and compassion for the death of Commander Cojocaru and injures suffered by Lieutenant Commander Ioana.

MoND Press Office