SWISS PLANE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY PILOT'S ERROR - SAYS CRO. OFFICIAL

SIBENIK, July 2 (Hina) - A Swiss sports plane which crashed into the Adriatic Sea off the central Croatian coast at 11.10 hours on Saturday was pulled out of the water today by divers of a Sibenik- County police special unit, experts of the "Nautilus" diving company, and the crew of the "Albatros Mali" trawler. The "Monex 20" cessna plane crashed into the sea between the islands of Prvic and Tijat, claiming the life of 52-year-old Swiss citizen Hans Nussbaumer. Two other people who were aboard the plane were rescued immediately after the accident. Even though an investigation is still ongoing, it is believed the accident was caused by one of the two pilots, said Miroslav Borkovic, president of the Plane Accidents Commission at the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transportation, and Communications. Borkovic and members of the ministry commission were present when the remains of the plane were pulled out of the water. He said the plane's fuel tanks were insured and there had been no danger of major sea-water pollution. Borkovic added the wreck was transferred to Sibenik for examination, but that it was already safe to say the crash had been caused by an error on the pilot's part. Croatia's flight control services did their job professionally and precisely and are not responsible at all, Borkovic said, adding the entire documentation, pictures, retrieved objects and examination results would be forwarded to competent bodies in Switzerland according to international regulations. (hina) ha