02:34Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Minister of Defence Atanas Zaprianov spoke to the press at the Graf Ignatievo Air Force base on Friday after two military pilot instructors were killed in a plane crash during preparations for an air show.
Zaprianov confirmed that the plane was an L-39ZA jet from the '12th base in Dolna Mitropolia', adding that the crash occurred just after midday.
"The plane underwent an annual overhaul. But we cannot comment more on the causes of the crash because the military prosecutor's office and the state inspectorate for the investigation of aviation accidents under the military police are already at the base," he added.
The names of the dead have since been confirmed as Major Petko Dimitrov (51) and Lieutenant Ventsislav (28). The plane reportedly crashed while performing low-altitude manoeuvres at the Graf Ignatievo base during rehearsals for a now cancelled air show scheduled for Saturday.
"This is a routine training flight that has been planned for a very long time, and they have been preparing for it for months. This task has been performed many times at the base in Dolna Mitropolia, and today was supposed to be part of the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's event," said Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force General Dimitar Petrov.
"This aircraft has been operational without issue for training and training activities. It has been fully sufficient for the needs of the military base so far," he added.
A day of mourning for the Bulgarian Armed Forces has been declared on Saturday, with flags flown at half-mast. Meanwhile, the Military Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the crash.
The air show planned at the Graf Ignatievo base was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria joining NATO.
Two Bulgarian military aviators killed in plane crash ahead of air show celebrating 20 years in NATO
Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Minister of Defence Atanas Zaprianov spoke to the press at the Graf Ignatievo Air Force base on Friday after two military pilot instructors were killed in a plane crash during preparations for an air show.
Zaprianov confirmed that the plane was an L-39ZA jet from the '12th base in Dolna Mitropolia', adding that the crash occurred just after midday.
"The plane underwent an annual overhaul. But we cannot comment more on the causes of the crash because the military prosecutor's office and the state inspectorate for the investigation of aviation accidents under the military police are already at the base," he added.
The names of the dead have since been confirmed as Major Petko Dimitrov (51) and Lieutenant Ventsislav (28). The plane reportedly crashed while performing low-altitude manoeuvres at the Graf Ignatievo base during rehearsals for a now cancelled air show scheduled for Saturday.
"This is a routine training flight that has been planned for a very long time, and they have been preparing for it for months. This task has been performed many times at the base in Dolna Mitropolia, and today was supposed to be part of the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's event," said Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force General Dimitar Petrov.
"This aircraft has been operational without issue for training and training activities. It has been fully sufficient for the needs of the military base so far," he added.
A day of mourning for the Bulgarian Armed Forces has been declared on Saturday, with flags flown at half-mast. Meanwhile, the Military Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the crash.
The air show planned at the Graf Ignatievo base was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria joining NATO.
Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Minister of Defence Atanas Zaprianov spoke to the press at the Graf Ignatievo Air Force base on Friday after two military pilot instructors were killed in a plane crash during preparations for an air show.
Zaprianov confirmed that the plane was an L-39ZA jet from the '12th base in Dolna Mitropolia', adding that the crash occurred just after midday.
"The plane underwent an annual overhaul. But we cannot comment more on the causes of the crash because the military prosecutor's office and the state inspectorate for the investigation of aviation accidents under the military police are already at the base," he added.
The names of the dead have since been confirmed as Major Petko Dimitrov (51) and Lieutenant Ventsislav (28). The plane reportedly crashed while performing low-altitude manoeuvres at the Graf Ignatievo base during rehearsals for a now cancelled air show scheduled for Saturday.
"This is a routine training flight that has been planned for a very long time, and they have been preparing for it for months. This task has been performed many times at the base in Dolna Mitropolia, and today was supposed to be part of the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's event," said Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force General Dimitar Petrov.
"This aircraft has been operational without issue for training and training activities. It has been fully sufficient for the needs of the military base so far," he added.
A day of mourning for the Bulgarian Armed Forces has been declared on Saturday, with flags flown at half-mast. Meanwhile, the Military Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the crash.
The air show planned at the Graf Ignatievo base was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria joining NATO.