On September 13th, just before a major military airshow was about to kick off at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded.
An aircraft, engaged in a daring stunt, crashed spectacularly, resulting in the deaths of two esteemed pilots.
Fatal Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong
The ill-fated flight involved Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin, who were reportedly performing acrobatic maneuvers with an L-39ZA Albatros.
According to local reports, the pilots were executing a loop-the-loop when something went terribly wrong.
The plane, flying dangerously low, failed to gain the necessary altitude to complete the maneuver, leading to a catastrophic failure.
The Devastating Impact
As seen in harrowing footage of the event, the aircraft attempted to climb and complete the loop but lost power.
Despite the pilot’s desperate efforts to regain control, the plane plummeted to the ground and erupted into a massive fireball upon impact.
The sequence ends with the cameraman, visibly shaken, capturing the dense black smoke billowing from the wreckage.
Mourning and Investigation
Bulgarian Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting the pilots’ extensive experience and dedication.
He announced a day of mourning on September 15th to honor their sacrifice, with flags to be lowered in their memory.
In the wake of the accident, the Bulgarian Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, decided to cancel the airshow.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact causes of the crash.
Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and various military authorities have extended their condolences and are actively involved in the inquiry.
The Graf Ignatievo Air Base was scheduled to celebrate significant milestones on September 14th, including Bulgaria’s 20th anniversary of joining NATO and the 35th anniversary of the MiG-29’s service with the Bulgarian Air Force.