Three Days of Mourning for Bulgarian Pilots Lost in Fatal Crash

Two highly skilled pilots from the Dolna Mitropolia Air Base have tragically lost their lives in a crash involving an L-39ZA combat training aircraft. The incident occurred at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo, with Major Petko Dimitrov Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Atanasov Dunkin identified as the deceased.

Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov provided details at a press briefing, revealing that the accident took place on September 13, 2024, during a training flight. The flight was part of the preparations for the upcoming airshow scheduled for September 14. The plane, which had undergone significant repairs and was deemed technically sound, crashed at 12:30 p.m. after an initial flight at 12:17 p.m.

The aircraft had been thoroughly checked before takeoff and had recently undergone capital restoration. Despite these measures, the plane crashed during what was described as a routine training exercise. Minister Zapryanov confirmed that the military prosecutor's office and the aviation accident investigation inspectorate from the Military Police are on site, with their findings to be shared once the investigation concludes.

The Air Force Commander, Major General Dimitar Petrov, described the accident as occurring during a planned training exercise that had been in preparation for several months. He emphasized that the pilots were exceptional in their field, with Major Dimitrov being one of Bulgaria's most experienced L-39 pilots and Senior Lieutenant Dunkin showing great promise. Both pilots had a distinguished track record, with Major Dimitrov serving as the Head of Flight Planning and Reporting and Senior Lieutenant Dunkin recognized for his professional performance.

In recognition of their contributions and to honor their...