Paratrooper severely injured in a parachute jump at Cheshnegirovo airport (update)

A paratrooper was seriously injured during training parachute jumps at Cheshnegirovo airpoert, near Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, on May 13.

The serviceman, who is from the Joint Special Operations Command, was performing a free-fall jump with a flying wing type parachute. His main parachute malfunctioned, but the automatic parachute activated; however, upon landing, the serviceman suffered severe fractures to his rms and legs He was immediately transported by Mi-17 helicopter to "St. George" University Hospital in Plovdiv.

According to BNT sources, a second paratrooper was slightly injured in the accident, but his injuries are minimal and his condition is good. An inquiry has been appointed into the case and an investigation is being conducted by the Military District Prosecutor's Office - Plovdiv and the Military Police Service.

This is not the first such accident at the former military airfield in Cheshnigirovo, which is now used as a training base. In June 2019, a Canadian paratrooper died there during night jumps while taking part in an international exercise, and three other US military personnel were injured.

Investigation into death of Canadian soldier killed during parachute exercise