2 Pilots Killed As Plane Crashes During Practice In Bulgaria Airshow

Sofia: An Aero L-39 Albatros jet met with a tragic crash near Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria, killing both the pilots onboard the aircraft. The incident occurred during the practice session for the upcoming airshow in the country. According to the reports, the cause of the crash is not known yet. A probe has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

A video of the crash has also surfaced on social media capturing the dramatic crash of the aircraft during a practice session for the airshow. 

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria said, two pilot instructors were killed when a two-seater aircraft crashed during a training flight in Bulgaria on Friday, ahead of a military air show scheduled the next day. Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev arrived at the crash scene at the Graf Ignatievo air base in central Bulgaria.

The crash occurred at 12.30 pm and killed two pilot instructors, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said. The plane involved was an L-39ZA advanced training aircraft, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the ministry cancelled the international air show planned to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria’s admission to NATO on Saturday, and said an investigation of the accident was underway.

Earlier on Friday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a former Bulgarian Air Force commander, co-piloted an F-16 aircraft at the same air base.