Podcast in English
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.

More from category

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov

Vazrazhdane party organizes anti-government protest in central Sofia on September 27

The nationalist party Vazrazhdane has announced a protest demanding the resignation of the government on September 27. The protest will be held in front of the National Assembly building in central Sofia at 12:00. A protest is..

published on 9/26/25 3:55 PM

International mission recommends stronger independence of Bulgaria's public broadcasters BNT and BNR

Bulgaria continues to be among the EU countries with th e most serious deficits in the area of ​​media freedom. This is the conclusion of the Coalition of international organizations working in the field of press freedom, which conducted an..

published on 9/26/25 1:49 PM

The United States and Bulgaria strengthen cooperation in combating crime

Representatives of the Diplomatic Security Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection visited Varna to meet with their Bulgarian counterparts to exchange..

published on 9/26/25 12:27 PM