There are seven crashes in our military aviation in the last 21 years. Three of them are with military planes, the rest with helicopters. Only one of the crashes, with a Pilatus training plane near Dolna Mitropolia, ended without casualties.
June 9, 2021
On the night of June 9, 2021, military pilot Major Valentin Terziev died during a night exercise. Then his fighter “MiG-29” crashed into the sea off Shabla after hitting a dropped target that was too low. In the pre-trial proceedings, two soldiers were charged with causing death by negligence. In September of last year, the Military District Prosecutor's Office closed the criminal proceedings, but in March of this year, the investigation into the death of the military pilot was reopened.
June 11, 2018
Mi-17 military helicopter crashed near Plovdiv airport on a scheduled flight. He fell from a height of about 50 m in the area of the “Krumovo” air base. The crew on board the helicopter consists of three servicemen, and two of them died when the machine fell.
June 9, 2017
Helicopter “Panther” falls into the waters of the Black Sea while performing tasks during a tactical exercise. The 38-year-old crew commander died in the accident. The other two crew members were injured and admitted to the Military Medical Academy – Varna.
November 29, 2010
Training plane “Pilatus” from the “Dolna Mitropolia” air base crash lands after losing power on takeoff. The two pilots decide to make an emergency landing. These are also the first Bulgarian military personnel awarded by the head of state with an Order of Merit, because they kept their composure and managed to land the aircraft, saving the village of Gorna Mitropolia from serious consequences in the event of a possible ejection.
July 24, 2003
Mi-17 helicopter, with serial number 433, from the Krumovo air base. crashed near Razlog. The crew commander, the co-pilot, the flight technician and another senior officer were killed in the accident.
May 16, 2003
Fighter “MiG-21 BIS” from the airbase in “Graf Ignatievo” crashed in the area of Panagyurishte. The plane hit a tree and exploded during a training flight over the Manzaloto area. The pilot died.