Fire Chief Sends Pilot Away From Fire Site

The pilot claims he notified Slavica of the poor situation on Kornat island and the danger of the fire spreading.

So far unpublished details of fire-fighter`s deaths on Kornat island reveal that the fire-fighting plane pilot lost contact with air control in Zemunik on that fateful day, upon extinguishing the fire. According to him, he did not hear orders of Sibenik Fire Department chief Drazen Slavica to stop extinguishing the fire on Kornat island and to go to the fire near Vodice, the Jutarnji list daily writes.

On his way to Vodice, the pilot loaded the water into his plane from a bay near Pirovac and then received Slavica`s call. The pilot claims Slavica notified him of the poor situation on Kornat island and the danger of the fire spreading, but Slavica sent him to Vodice, telling him that houses were threatened there.

Croatia Airlines pilot heard Slavica`s call, who forwarded the message to the fire-fighting plane pilot at 15:20 hours. The fire-fighting plane pilot told investigators that he doubted Slavica`s decision was a good one and tried to change it, so he asked his Croatia Airlines colleague to tell Zemunik how the situation on Kornat island was bad.

The fire-fighting plane pilot requested to remain at the fire site for some time because the fire might soon be flaring up again if he leaves Kornat island. The pilot, however, did not receive a feedback message so he decided to obey orders and headed towards Vodice at 15:20 hours, the Jutarnji list daily writes.