A Croatian fighter jet crashed on Tuesday during a training flight and a search for the crew is under way, the defence ministry said.

The Russian-made MiG-21 plane crashed around 2pm (1300GMT) in an uninhabited forested area near the eastern town of Slatina, the ministry said in a statement.

A rescue operation for the crew is ongoing, it said without elaborating. 

Local media reported that one pilot managed to eject.

NATO and European Union member Croatia last year bought a batch of used Rafale planes from France, to replace its obsolete MiGs.

The first of the 12 Rafale planes are expected in Croatia by 2024.

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