Two pilots died in the military aircraft crash at "Graf Ignatievo" air base

Caretaker Prime Minister, Dimitar Glavchev, and Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, confirmed the death of the crew from the L-39 aircraft, which crashed during a training flight on September 13 at Graf Ignatievo air base (Southern Bulgaria).

They are Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin of the Air Force - both instructors.

A military plane crashed during a rehearsal for the air show near "Graf Ignatievo" air base, scheduled for tomorrow, September 14.

"The major was born in 1973, the senior lieutenant in 1996. I express my condolences to the relatives. Today at 12.13 during a training flight, after the flights of the first groups, it was the turn of the crew from the Second Base of Dolna Mitropolia air base (Northern Bulgaria). They took off at 12.17, crashed at 12.30 and died," caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told a briefing on September 13. "These were the instructors who train pilots, these were our best pilots," he said.

The commander of the Second Base explained that this was a routine training flight planned long ago and for which the pilots had been preparing for months. The task had been performed many times at Dolna Mitropolia air base and today was to be performed as a dress rehearsal for the air show scheduled to take place tomorrow.

"Excellent pilots, with excellent training," said the general.

The aircraft has undergone a major overhaul this year and has been accepted by the Air Force, operated without problem for training and training activities. He could give no explanation why the catapult had not worked.

"An investigation is on-going, I can't comment on anything like reasons or motives. The task has been trained repeatedly, that in itself suggests they have been trained for what they are doing. Major Dimitrov is one of the best L-39 pilots in Bulgaria, and Lieutenant Dunkin is a young pilot with excellent skills. He was one of the hopes of the base."

Military prosecutors and investigators launched inquiry into the accident with the fallen plane.

The Armed Forces will hld aday of mourning tomorrow, flags will be flown at half mast, the Defence Minister has announced.