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

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry: Two Bulgarian citizens and a Palestinian have been successfully evacuated from the Gaza Strip

Three people — two young Bulgarian citizens and an elderly Palestinian woman, a family member of one of the Bulgarians — have been successfully evacuated from the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. "The evacuation was..

published on 9/30/25 8:51 AM

Sofia hosts international exhibition for machinery and technologies in metalworking

From September 30 to October 3, Inter Expo Center in Sofia hosts MachTech&InnoTech Expo, the largest international exhibition in Bulgaria for machinery and technologies in metalworking. The event features 150 exhibitors and more than 500..

published on 9/30/25 6:45 AM

Two-thirds of adult Bulgarians are overweight

A roundtable discussion on the need for a national program to combat obesity will be held today in the National Assembly.  An expert report on the topic "The (Un)Beatable Pandemics - Obesity" states that Bulgaria is in 5th place in Europe in..

published on 9/30/25 6:05 AM