All three victims, a pilot, a female copilot and a female passenger, were Croatian citizens. The plane, owned by the Trade Air private company from Zagreb, crashed upon taking off from Bergamo between 10.30 and 11 pm. It was en route to Zagreb. The victims' identities have not been revealed.
Haluzan said the causes of the crash were unknown as yet and that it was too early to speculate about them.
She added an investigation was expected to be launched by Italian air authorities because the accident occurred on Italian territory. Italian air authorities and police are looking for the black box which is expected to clarify the causes of the crash.
Haluzan said a ministry inspector had been to Trade Air and would send all the necessary documents to Italian authorities.
Italian news agency ANSA said the plane hit power-transmission lines upon taking off and then crashed into a field between Grassobbio and the Bergamo airport. It is assumed the main cause of the crash was thick fog. ANSA said the pilot was probably sufficiently conscious after hitting the power-transmission lines to direct the plane into the field, otherwise he would have crashed the plane into buildings.