Canadian paratrooper dies in military exercise near Bulgaria’s Plovdiv

A Canadian paratrooper died during a military exercise with night flights and jumps of paratroopers over Cheshnegirovo Airport near Bulgaria’s city of Plovdiv. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence on June 18. Three other US soldiers were also injured in the jumps, but for the time being there is no confirmation from the official sources.

Swift Response is a US Army Europe-led multinational annual airborne exercise and takes place in the territories of the Republic of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania from June 13 to 25. The participants from eight NATO nations are approximately 5,600, out of which 1,495 are paratroopers.

The tragic incident happened during a night jump. One of the paratroopers taking part in the exercise did not manage to open the parachute and fell on the ground without a chance to be saved. According to initial information, the dead ranger is a Canadian parachutist.