Croatia's Dubrovnik marks 1996 U.S. plane crash

A commemoration was held in Dubrovnik (Croatia) to honour the victims of the 3 April 1996 plane crash near Čilipi Airport, which claimed the lives of a U.S. trade delegation led by Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown.

Trey Lyons, the U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires a.i., emphasised that the delegation's mission was to strengthen ties between the two countries, a goal that remains ongoing, CE Report quotes HINA.

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković recalled that the delegation aimed to aid Croatia's post-war reconstruction by involving American businesses.

"Sadly, this tragedy halted that initiative, but strong U.S. support for Croatia continued, and we see the results of that partnership today. The U.S. respects Croatia and recognises it as a stabilising force in the region," said Franković.

Representatives from Croatia's Ministry of Defence, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Municipality of Konavle, and Dubrovnik Airport also attended the ceremony.

On 3 April 1996, during a severe storm, a U.S. military aircraft carrying Commerce Secretary Brown and 34 others crashed on Sveti Ivan Hill near Čilipi. The delegation was en route to meet Croatian officials in Dubrovnik.

All passengers were killed, including two Croatian nationals, a photojournalist and an interpreter.