Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has called for a comprehensive analysis following the recent inspection by the Ministry of Defense concerning the fighter jet crash that occurred a month ago, which resulted in the deaths of both pilots. He urged the Defense Committee in Parliament to provide clarification after the Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had analyzed the black box data from the incident.

In a statement, Radev criticized any political interference or demands for resignations while the investigation is ongoing, describing such actions as unethical and immoral. He emphasized that the Ministry of Defense's commission must thoroughly investigate not only the organization and training of pilots in the Air Force but also examine communication records. Radev insisted on establishing accountability throughout the entire command chain, highlighting the importance of the Defense and Armed Forces Act, which clearly outlines responsibilities regarding leadership, planning, and capability provision.

We remind you that yesterday, Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense concluded that high-risk decisions by the pilots led to the fatal crash of an L-39 combat training aircraft at Graf Ignatievo Airbase on September 13, resulting in the deaths of Lieutenant Colonel Petko Dimitrov and Captain Vencislav Dunkin. The commission's report indicated that the pilots maneuvered the aircraft too low and attempted a vertical climb without maintaining adequate speed, which created an emergency situation. Despite conditions that would have allowed for ejection, the crew did not act, resulting in the crash. Contributing factors included violations of safety protocols and poor altitude assessment. Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov emphasized that accountability measures would follow the investigation, which aims to maintain transparency regarding the incident.

On the Day of Aviation and the Bulgarian Air Force, celebrated on October 16, President Radev laid wreaths in memory of aviators and paratroopers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. During this ceremony, he was joined by Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov and Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Tsanko Stoykov.

Later today, President Radev will embark on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the invitation of Denis Becirović, who leads the country's Presidency. The discussions are expected to focus on bilateral relations, Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective, and cooperation in Southeast Europe to enhance regional security and stability. Radev is also scheduled to visit the "Butmir" military base and meet with Bulgarian military personnel involved in the EU's "Althea" mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.