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

The Bulgarian passport grants visa-free access to 177 countries and destinations

Bulgaria retains 13th place in the Henley Passport Index, having climbed 8 positions over the past 10 years, according to the website of the London-based citizenship and residency consultancy Henley & Partners.  The Henley Passport Index ranks 199..

published on 7/24/25 9:16 AM

Bulgaria resubmits second payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan

Bulgaria has resubmitted its second request for payment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), amounting to EUR 653 million. The request covers the implementation of 59 milestones and targets, 20 of which were related to legislative..

published on 7/24/25 8:43 AM

Participants from eight countries takе part in the International Folklore Festival "Srebarna Pafta" in Kyustendil

From July 24 to 26, Kyustendil will host the 21st edition of the International Folklore Festival "Srebarna Pafta/Silver Belt Buckle" – a celebration of cultural diversity and dance art from around the world, BTA reports. The festival will bring..

published on 7/24/25 6:15 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 18 | Max: 33
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 33
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 18 | Max: 31
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 20 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 22 | Max: 35
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 18 | Max: 30
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 38
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 33
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 20 | Max: 32
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 20 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 21 | Max: 37
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 30
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 33
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 38
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 30
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 39
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

Blagoevgrad to host the 32nd edition of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students

From July 28 to August 3, the town of Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) will host the 32nd edition of the prestigious International Mathematics..

published on 7/27/25 5:40 AM

More than 200 fires have been extinguished in the past 24 hours

Tгиее helicopters arrived at Plovdiv Airport under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.  One came from Hungary, the second from Slovakia, and the..

published on 7/28/25 8:48 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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