Seven Romanian soldiers died on March 2 when their helicopter crashed in eastern Romania while searching for a missing fighter jet, the Defense Ministry said.
The IAR 330-Puma helicopter crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, about 10 kilometers from the airfield.
It had been sent to search for the fighter jet, a MiG-21 Lancer, which had taken off earlier and lost contact with the control tower and disappeared from radar three minutes after taking off around 8 p.m. local time, the ministry said.
The remains of the helicopter and those on board were later discovered. All seven members of the crew died, Defense Minister Vasile Dincu said early on March 3.
Defense Ministry spokesman Constantin Spanu said the fighter jet had not yet been found, but witnesses cited in Romanian media said they saw an explosion in the area where it disappeared from the radar.
The pilot of the helicopter reported adverse weather conditions and had been ordered to return to base, Spanu said.
"It is premature to discuss possible causes. Certainly, there were unfavorable weather conditions, but we can't comment now," he told Digi24 television, adding that two commissions of inquiry had been set up.
No information linked the crashes to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis sent a message of condolence expressing "deep regret and full compassion for the loss of life of seven soldiers."
Seven Romanian Soldiers Die In Crash of Military Helicopter Sent To Search For Missing Fighter Jet
A MiG-21 Lancer takes off during training exercises at a military airfield in Campia Turzii in Transylvania, Romania, in 2014.