On 10 March 2025, officers of the Ljubljana Police Directorate were informed that air traffic control had lost communication with a small Mooney aircraft flying from Zagreb to Switzerland. Contact with the aircraft, which was carrying one person, was lost in the area of Velika planina.

Irfan Beganović, Criminal Police Division, Ljubljana Police Directorate

The police and the Mountain Rescue Service, together with the local fire brigades, immediately started intensive activities in the Velika planina area to track down the missing aircraft. Due to extremely bad weather conditions, which worsened during the rescue, search by helicopter was not possible as visibility was only a few metres. The area was therefore intensively searched by rescue teams in groups, who had to reach the site by cable car and on foot, as the area could not be accessed by vehicles.

Rescue teams discovered parts of a plane at a timber structure in the Velika planina area, which were found to belong to the missing aircraft. After a search of the wider area and then a detailed examination of the immediate surroundings of the structure that the plane had crashed into, more parts of the plane were found. The findings showed that the cockpit was located in the building itself, i.e. in its basement. The wooden hut was practically cut in half and extremely unstable; it was not possible to enter the building, as there was a possibility of collapse at any moment.

Police officers had to constantly adapt to the situation on the ground and tried to get the necessary equipment and team on the scene as quickly and safely as possible.

Teams of police and criminal investigators, mountain police units, a team from the Air Support Unit and the Special Police Unit, as well as members of other emergency services were on the ground, all with the aim of safely entering the building and finding the pilot as soon as possible to help alleviate the distress of the relatives. Only then did an investigation into the causes of the accident ensue.

During a brief break in the weather, a police helicopter delivered additional equipment to Velika planina and shortly afterwards a person was found under the rubble

During the short break in the weather, a Slovenian police helicopter was able to make several flights to Veliko planina and deliver the necessary equipment to ensure the stability of the structure. Shortly afterwards, a person was found in the collapsed building. The missing pilot of the aircraft is presumed to be a Swedish national.

The removal of material and parts of the aircraft took place throughout the afternoon, while the accident site was also inspected by criminal investigators of the Ljubljana Police Directorate and an air accident investigator. The cause of the accident itself cannot be confirmed at this time, the specific circumstances will be established in the coming days. The competent public prosecutor's office will be kept informed of all findings.