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Helicopter went missing, pilot took off at 7:40 AM

Photo: Archive EPA/BGNES

A private agricultural helicopter went missing near the village of Garmen, near the town of Gotse Delchev. So far there is no connection with the pilot. The machine was hired by the Southwestern State Forestry Enterprise to spray the pine forests against harmful pests. 

According to the mayor of the municipality of Garmen, Feim Isa, the pilot took off this morning at 7.40 from the village and was supposed to land near the village of Tsalapitsa in Plovdiv at noon. The remainder of the crew left in a minibus. The pilot's colleagues later reported that they had no contact with him. 

Meanwhile, a signal of a possible accident was filed at the Emergency Center in Gotse Delchev and in Blagoevgrad. Teams immediately went to the area of Garmen, but so far no trace of the crashed helicopter has been found. 

Ambulances from Blagoevgrad and Gotse Delchev have been dispatched to the scene and a Cougar helicopter has joined the search. 



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