ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

UPDATED: Two pilots killed as military plane crashes while training for air show

Graf Ignatievo Air Base
Photo: BTA

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov has cancelled the air show at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base after an L-39 ZA military transport plane crashed, the Defence Ministry said.

The accident occurred during preparations for tomorrow's demonstrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to NATO. 

The L-39 trainer crashed at the Graf Ignatyevo airbase while performing a complex manoeuvre at extremely low altitude. The two pilots had no reaction time for ejection. They were killed in the crash. An investigation is under way. Measures have been taken to locate the fires and determine the causes of the accident. 

Earlier today, President Rumen Radev took part as co-pilot in a demonstration flight of an F-16 fighter jet at the airbase at the invitation of the US Air Force.

As a sign of respect for the fallen pilots, three days of mourning have been announced in the formations of the armed forces, it was reported.

The L-39 trainer aircraft has been in service in Bulgaria since 1994, when Bulgaria received 36 aircraft from Czechoslovakia, of which only 6 were flying as of 2014. They have been undergoing repairs in the Bulgarian military-industrial complex, BNT reported.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria News    atanas zapryanov crash graf ignatievo air base military transport plane nato

More from category

Temperatures remain unchanged, no rainfall expected

On Thursday it will be sunny and hot again. There will be light wind from the north-northwest. The highest temperatures will be between 36° and 41°C; in Sofia - around 36°C. In the mountains it will be mostly sunny. The wind..

published on 6/25/25 7:35 PM
PM Rosen Zhelyazkov

Bulgaria Supports NATO's New Goal of 5% of GDP for Defence by 2035

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov led the Bulgarian delegation at the recently concluded NATO Summit in The Hague. Speaking to journalists, he stated that an agreement had been reached — with Bulgaria’s support — for each allied country to raise its..

published on 6/25/25 5:45 PM

Leva-to-euro exchange jumps by 43% in one week

The National Revenue Agency is inspecting currency exchange offices due to increased interest in buying euros . Within just one week, the exchange of Bulgarian leva into euros increased by 43%, the agency’s director, Rumen Spetsov, announced in..

published on 6/25/25 5:33 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 16 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 15 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 32
Partly Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Vice President Iliana Yotova to deliver a lecture at Jagiellonian University in Krakow

At the invitation of Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1364 , Vice President Iliana Yotova will be in Krakow,..

published on 6/24/25 7:35 AM

Defence Ministry proposes wartime HQs for state authorities

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov has proposed the establishment of wartime command centres for state institutions . A draft decree from the Council of..

published on 6/24/25 2:51 PM

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry issues warning over national strike in Belgium on 25 June

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued a warning about a national strike in Belgium on 25 June 2025, organised by the trade unions...

published on 6/24/25 5:53 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"