Bulgarian airshow cancelled after L-39ZA crash

The Bulgarski Voenno-Vuzdushni Sili (Bulgarian Air Force) lost one of its Aero L-39ZA trainers, when it crashed near Graf Ignatievo air base on 13 September 2024. In the crash, the two crew members, instructor pilots of the air force, both perished.

Eyewitnesses stated that the trainer was performing two consecutive loopings. During the first of these the plane hardly had enough ground clearance, while the second loop resulted in the fatal crash.

The accident occurred while the pilots were flying a rehearsal for a display which should have taken place during an airshow at Graf Ignatievo on 14 September. As a result of the tragic accident, the Bulgarian Air Force decided to cancel the airshow.

This airshow was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria’s admission to NATO and 35 years since the Soviet-era MiG-29 went into service with the Bulgarian Air Force.

The identity of the crashed L-39ZA is 207 (035207), and was delivered in 1990. The Albatros was one of the final remaining handful of L-39s that are still operational in the Bulgarian Air Force. Of the 36 examples that were originally delivered since 1986 only four to six remained. Many have been sold on the civilian market and continue to fly as warbird or as adversary aircraft.

Source: The Sofia Globe

Photo: Paul van der Linden