Defence Minister: All data from the black box of the crashed L-39 aircraft was retrieved

The two pilots who died, Ventsislav Dunkin and Petko Dimitrov, had 60 flying hours each, the caretaker Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov, said. According to him, this was enough for their preparation. The data from the black box of the L-39 Albatros which crashed at Graf Ignatyevo air base have already been handed over to the Prosecutor's office and the investigators, as well as to the inspectors at the Defense Ministry who are investigating the crash. Zapryanov said that once the results become clear, there definitely will be administrative and personnel measures.

Military aircraft crashed during air show rehearsal at Graf Ignatievo air base (video) - update

An investigative team from the Military Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the data from the black box of the fatal L-39 flight.

The black box was sent to the manufacturer's plant in Czechia to ensure the data is successfully retrieved.

Defence Minister Zapryanov: The black box of the crashed L-39 aircraft has been found

All data from the black box of the crashed L-39 Albatros was retrieved and no information has been lost from the fatal flight in which pilots Ventsislav Dunkin and Petko Dimitrov lost their lives.

The black box is the condition of the aircraft, the link between the pilot and ground control, the flight controllers. However, the Prosecutor's office is checking many more elements, so it is not only the 'black box' and its analysis that will give us enough information to make a decision," the caretaker Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov, explained.

According to BNT sources, from the data in the black box it can be assumed that the crash occurred during the execution of a complex maneuver called "Cuban 8". The aircraft failed to gain enough speed at a critically low altitude before vertical climb. This is also confirmed by independent experts.

"There is a point in this flight where, for unexplained reasons, the normal trajectory is disturbed and then the situation becomes extremely difficult to get the aircraft out of the descent," said former military pilot prof. Dimitar Nedyalkov.

BNT has also learned that one of the key points for the investigators is to establish whether and when the ground controller ordered the abort of the complex manoeuvre. He had full information on altitude, speed and data from the machine, as well as visual contact with the aircraft.

"This is a judgment by the crew. Of course, commands can be given from the ground, this is now a matter of investigation, because when we talk about human error in such a situation, the actions of everyone involved in making this flight are monitored. We are talking about engineering staff, providing staff, flight management. And of course the crew who are in the cockpit and performing the flight itself," said Prof. Nedyalkov.

“I have ordered a check into other processes of organisation, planning, preparation, conduct and analysis of training flights from much earlier than the Open Flying Day. (which was scheduled at the air base to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's NATO membership and the 35th anniversary of the MiG-29 aircraft's induction into the Bulgarian Air Force).

That is, we are starting and checking some things that have been happening at the base, at the level of the type of armed force, to get the overall picture," the minister explained.

BNT also learnt that the evidence gathered so far indicates that the crashed aircraft was in order and at this stage no evidence has been gathered of any technical problem occurring during the fatal flight.

"In this case, we have a situation where the instructors have sufficient experience. Last year over 100 flying hours, this year about 60. We have an aircraft in order but I want to know the whole picture," the minister added.

The minister said the decisions to be taken will depend on the results.

"There will definitely be measures, administrative and personnel measures. Depending on the result and the report that the investigative team of the Prosecutor's office will provide and my working group that we have appointed," Zapryanov added.

However, it is unclear when all the expert reports commissioned by the Prosecutor's office will be ready to make it clear who is to blame for the crash.

***

An L-39ZA aircraft crashed during a training flight on September 13, 2024, at the Air Base near Graf Ignatievo,. As a result, the two pilots from the 12th Air Base in Dolna Mitropolia, Petko Dimitrov and Ventsislav Dunkin, died.

By order of caretaker Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, on September 18 they were posthumously promoted in rank.

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