High-ranking officials of Bulgaria's Defense Ministry will be questioned in connection to the helicopter crash in southwest Bulgaria that claimed the lives of three army officers and a fire fighter.

According to a prosecutor, several versions on the possible cause of the crash are still being investigated although the committee appointed by the Defense Ministry officially announced that a sudden gust of strong wind must be blamed for the tragedy.

Martial District Prosecutor Georgi Kamburov told Bulgarian Darik radio that all who might be responsible for the last mission of the helicopter - from the army officers who order it to Defense Minister Svinarov himself - will be questioned. Up till now, thirty-four officials have been interrogated in connection to the case.

In a surprise move, Prosecutor Kamburov insisted that the strong wind was not the cause of crash.

On July 24, a military helicopter crashed during an operation to extinguish a vast forest blaze in southwest Bulgaria suspected to have been started intentionally