site.btaMilitary Aircraft Crashes Near Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Two Pilots Die

A military L-39 ZA aircraft crashed near the Graf Ignatievo Air Base on Friday afternoon, killing the two pilots on board, the Defence Ministry said.

The accident occurred during preparations of demonstrations planned for Saturday.

An open flying day was scheduled at the Air Base to commemorate two significant milestones: the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's NATO membership and the 35th anniversary of the MiG-29 aircraft's induction into the Bulgarian Air Force.

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov cancelled the Saturday air show at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base after the crash was reported.

At a briefing later on Friday, Minister Zapryanov explained that the aircraft has been renovated. He expressed condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased. 

The Minister added the incident occurred at 12:30 pm during a training flight for an L-39ZA team from Dolna Mitropoliya Air Base. "These were the instructors who train pilots, these were our best pilots," he said. 

Major Petko Dimitrov and First Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin were the two who perished, confirmed Bulgarian Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov. He explained that this was a routine training flight and one they had been preparing for months.

Asked whether he would resign after the accident, the Air Force Commander said he lost one of his best friends. "Do you think this is a light punishment?" he asked.

A team of military prosecutors and investigators, together with the Military Police Service, have launched an investigation to establish the causes and circumstances surrounding the accident.

Speaking on Bulgarian National Television, Minister Zapryanov said that the black box of the plane has been found and it will be deciphered.