Indonesian Smart Aviation took delivery of the last Pilatus PC-6 ever built on Monday. The Pilatus aircraft factory stopped production after 63 years.
Two pilots took off with the plane towards Indonesia. The transfer flight led from Buochs airfield first via Maribor and Podgorica to Heraklion on Crete. On Thursday morning, the pilots continued towards Egypt.
According to the Cretapost newspaper, there were problems after the start at Heraklion International Airport. The pilots made an emergency call. The brand-new machine lost height and fell into the sea from a height of 430 meters.
The accident site is about seven kilometers east of Crete’s capital, Heraklion. The two pilots were recovered in the sea. A 32-year-old South African survived the crash. However, his 62-year-old colleague from Indonesia could not be resuscitated.
Opposite to Aerotelegraph.com Pilatus confirmed the accident. However, no further information can be given at this time.