Croatian MiG-21 pilot survives two in-flight emergencies

Mig-21 photo Croatian defence ministry

13.08.2014 By: Igor Bozinovski - FG

Croatia’s air force suffered a double blow while participating in national celebrations on 5 August – unusually with the same pilot involved in both incidents.

Lt Col Stanko Hrženjak made an emergency landing at Zadar-Zemunik air base after the left leg of his Mikoyan MiG-21’s main landing gear failed to extend at the end of a flight to mark the 19th anniversary of the last major battle in Croatia’s war for independence. He overcame the problem by hydraulically retracting and re-extending the landing gear.

Ex-Yemen air force fighter 135 – which had recently been introduced after being returned to flight status in Ukraine – was grounded for technical inspection following the incident.

Read full article