site.btaDefence Minister Zapryanov: No Data from "Black Box" Was Lost in L-39 Crash

No data was lost as a result of the crash, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov stated on Wednesday in connection with the data recovered from the "black box" of the crashed L-39 training and combat aircraft. 

"What was done in Czechia is that the plant, with its means and tools, recovered the data from the "black box". Deciphering the 'black box' means technologically and technically recovering the data", Zapryanov said, expressing his satisfaction that this has been done in full.

The Minister added that the data is now at the disposal of the inspection and prosecution service, and waiting to be read and analyzed. He stressed that both the condition of the plane and the relationship between the pilots and ground control were subject to analysis, in addition to many other data.

"I have ordered checks of the other processes concerning the organisation, planning, preparation, conducting of the practice flights," Zapryanov said. 

"The instructors have an abundance of flight experience. Over 100 hours last year and about 60 hours this year," he said, adding that the aircraft was in order, but he wants to get the complete picture. 

On September 13, 2024, while preparing for a demonstration flight at the 3rd Air Base near Graf Ignatievo, an L-39ZA trainer aircraft crashed. As a result, the two pilots from the 12th Air Base in Dolna Mitropolia, Petko Dimitrov and Ventsislav Dunkin, perished and were posthumously promoted in rank.