The planes took off from the US airbase in Aviano, Italy, in a routine mission to control Bosnia's airspace as part of a NATO peacekeeping mission, Split airport services told AFP.

They landed safely at Split airport, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Zagreb, just before 1:00 pm (1100 GMT).

Both pilots have been transported to Divulje, near Split, a logistic base of NATO-led peacekeepers in Bosnia.

A team of mechanics to repair the engine was expected to arrive in Split later in the day from Aviano.

SPACE.WIRE