The Ministry of Defense presented a report of the commission appointed by the Minister of Defense, to investigate the causes of the air accident at the "Count Ignatievo" base on September 13, in which two pilots died.
Lieutenant Colonel Petko Dimitrov and Captain Vencislav Dunkin died during a training flight with an L-39 combat training aircraft, part of an air show at the air base on the occasion of 20 years since Bulgaria joined NATO.
After the accident, it became clear that the investigators are working on 3 main versions - pilot error, technical problem or incorrectly set command. The plane's black box was sent to the Czech Republic for analysis. It showed that the machine was flying too low.
"We cannot afford to lose human lives in peacetime," Minister Atanas Zapryanov was categorical.
However, he explained that he will make personnel decisions only after all the information on the case becomes clear.
"Be sure that those who do not serve according to the rules and do not follow the statutes and cannot bear the burden of the office, will not continue to occupy these responsible positions. Once all the information is clear, then staffing decisions will be made. I will not comment on hearsay hypotheses. As a professional and a general I will tell you that if in such tragic events, if a commander who presents the flag from the casket of a fallen subordinate does not feel a sense of responsibility in presenting it to the family, not only is he not for the job, but he does not even have human dignity", said Zapryanov.
"For me, as the Minister of Defense, this incident is extremely difficult, human lives are the most valuable for the Ministry of Defense. The commission's investigation is independent of the judicial and pre-trial ones. Determining the extent of one's guilt and responsibility is not the subject of the investigation. We cannot afford to lose human lives in peacetime. Even more so during a war, commanders ask themselves this question every day - why do we lose human lives in battle", noted the Minister of Defense.
"Transparent and accurate expertise can answer the cause of the accident," Zapryanov said.
Such incidents must be kept to a minimum, the minister is emphatic.
In the report of the commission for the investigation of the plane accident, work was carried out in four directions, explained Colonel Petko Vassilev - a state expert in the "Investigation of aviation accidents and incidents" department. in the "Military Police" service.
"First - study of the flight training of the crew and the organization of the flight, second - medical study, third - study of aviation equipment and fourth study of the circumstances in which the aviation accident occurred. On September 9, 2024, a general preliminary preparation was conducted via video conference connection, a protocol was also prepared for a briefing on knowledge of safety measures for organizing and conducting the open flying day at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base, said Colonel Vassilev.