At a video conference with the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), on behalf of President Javier Milei, Argentine Defence Minister Luis Petri expressed gratitude for the finding of the wreckage of a perished Argentine Antarctic explorers' aircraft.
During the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, which is supported by the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii, Bulgarian geologists Kalin Naydenov and Kiril Doskov and climbers Doychin Boyanov and Marcho Paunov found fragments of a Lockheed 2-P-103 Neptune of the Argentine Naval Research Squadron (including part of the sun on Argentina's flag). In mid-September 1976, the plane crashed into Mt Barnard on Livingston Island, killing all 11 persons on board. In January 1977, during a search for the crew's bodies, a BELL 212 helicopter crashed, too, and all three crew members died.
On February 4, 2024, a commemorative event was held on board the Bulgarian naval research vessel near the crash site off Livingston Island’s Barnard Point.
Petri talked by video conference with Bulgaria's Ambassador in Buenos Aires Stoyan Mihaylov, the leader of the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, Prof. Christo Pimpirev, the Rector of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, and the Commanding Officer of RSV 421, Commander Nikolay Danailov, while the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii was sailing off the coast of Argentina en route to Bulgaria, back from the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.
The Defence Minister stressed the exceptional importance of this discovery, made 48 years after the crash. "Indeed, checks have yet to be completed to confirm that this is indeed the Neptune aircraft. What happened now is important for us, and especially for the families of the 11 persons who died in the accident. Against this background, I acknowledge the close ties between our two countries. We are grateful for our cooperation and, in this particular case, for the discovery of the Neptune wreckage. Once again, all those who made this discovery possible, please accept gratitude on my behalf and on the behalf of the President," said Petri.
He added that the families of the people who were killed in the crash are being informed.
Ambassador Mihaylov said that the recovery of the wreckage and the commemorative event for the victims provided an occasion to pay tribute and respect to the dead Argentine Antarctic explorers. "We indeed acknowledge Argentina's immense support for our efforts to explore the White Continent. On the other hand, when you are there you realize that if you are alone and without solidarity from partners of the rest of the countries, without that Antarctic family, each one may find themselves among the victims," the diplomat pointed out.
He took the opportunity to thank Argentina for its comprehensive support to Bulgaria during all years of its Antarctic expeditions.
The Ambassador noted that even at this point, there is an Argentine officer on board the Bulgarian ship who shares his expertise of navigation in Antarctic waters. Mihaylov recalled that the Commanding Officer of RSV 421 and his two deputies have undergone an Antarctic navigation course in Argentina. "This ship is very important to us, it is the first Bulgarian research vessel to reach the Antarctic coast so as to share in and contribute to the exploration of the continent. As I have always said, Argentina, through its Navy, has a whole chapter of its own in the history of Bulgarian Antarctic shipping," the diplomat pointed out.
On behalf of the entire Antarctic community and of the Bulgarian people, Prof. Pimpirev thanked Defence Minister Petri for Argentina's years-long support. "We have been working together in Antarctica for more than 20 years now. I will never forget the commemorative event I attended, together with the crew and all explorers, on board the Argentine ice breaker Almirante Irízar, when we crossed the parallel where is the site of the tragedy of the cruiser General Belgrano, which claimed 300 lives. I was therefore duty bound and honourerd to organize a commemorative event on board our ship for the Argentineans who sacrificed their lives for peace and science in their country," the leader of the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition said.
Defence Minister Petri noted the traditional cooperation and solidarity between Argentina and Bulgaria. "This is a fact not only in Antarctica but anywhere in the world where we meet. You can rely on any assistance we can provide to your Antarctic expeditions and scientific research," he added.
"Argentina is Bulgaria's friend and is infinitely grateful for the finding of the Neptune wreckage. This is very important news for all the families of the Neptune tragedy victims. Thank you for everything you have done and are doing for my country. Argentina is indebted to you," said Defence Minister Petri in conclusion. He explained that after the wreckage is conclusively identified as belonging to the aircraft, tribute will be paid to those who perished. The Bulgarian Ambassador assured him of his assistance in this.
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During the 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica, which started on November 8, 2023, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is publishing interviews with Antarctic researchers. The Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log again provides coverage of the voyage of the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii to Antarctica and back and its stay there, as it did during the 31st expedition between December 27, 2022 and May 2, 2023. Back then, only BTA had a correspondent, Daily News Editor Konstantin Karagyozov, who covered the 127-day expedition with text, video and photos during the entire voyage (including across the Atlantic in both directions) and throughout the stay in Antarctica. In June 2023, BTA published in Bulgarian and in English an issue of its LIK magazine "To Antarctica and Back under the Bulgarian Flag" dedicated to the historic expedition.
Again, all of BTA's information on the Bulgarian scientific research in Antarctica and the support provided by the Bulgarian naval research vessel, as well as on the other activities at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, will be available to all media outlets in Bulgarian and in English on BTA's website in the Bulgaria - Antarctica: BTA's Log section.
BTA has a National Press Club on board the ship and opened a National Press Club at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.
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