site.btaHot Air Balloon Owner Released on BGN 10,000 Bail after Fatal Accident

Veselin Hristov, the owner of a hot air balloon involved in a fatal accident on October 23, was released by the Sofia District Court on a BGN 10,000 bail on Saturday. The court found that Hristov, who was flying the balloon at the time, caused the accident inadvertently, and there is no risk that he may abscond or commit another crime.

During a flight near Botevgrad, Sofia Region, the balloon carried two parachutists, one of whom leaped to his death and the other one was seriously injured after jumping.

Hristov is charged with inadvertently causing death and bodily harm while operating a hot air balloon without documents, without registration and a certificate of airworthiness, and with no pilot's license, in violation of the Civil Aviation Act.

The defence argued that the case is about two separate activities: flying a hot air balloon and using parachutes. They said the accident occurred after the parachutists jumped from the balloon. The two had experience and were well-equipped.

Both parachutes were found open. They obviously did not open at a safe height and early enough, the defence said.

They noted that there are no regulations for certifying hot air balloons in Bulgaria. Hristov has been trying for years to register his operation. He told the court that he did everything to obtain registration. He and other people wanted to provide the service on a regular basis as in the Turkish region of Cappadocia.

Hristov's lawyer Emil Milev told journalists the bail decision is basically correct, but he still might consider appealing it. Similarly, prosecutor Stanislava Poletinska said she will consider protesting the decision after familiarizing herself with the court's reasoning.