An investigation is currently underway.
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov cancelled the air show at the Third Air Base because of a military plane crash. The accident occurred in preparation for tomorrow's demonstrations.
Measures have been taken to contain the fires and establish the causes of the incident.
The ministry did not give further details about the incident. Radio Plovdiv reported that four fire brigades from the city under the hills were sent to the airbase. A fire brigade from the air base's military airfield is also involved.
Thick clouds of smoke can be seen in footage released by Bulgarian National Television.
The defense ministry said the crash happened with a military training plane, but the L-39 ZA was not one. The public media outlet specified that the L-39 trainer crashed while performing a complex maneuver at a marginally low altitude.
The accident did not trigger the catapult, respectively the parachutes did not open. The aircraft was piloted by two pilots.
BGNES reminds that earlier today President Rumen Radev participated in a demonstration flight of an F-16 fighter jet at the airbase at the invitation of the US Air Force.
A flying day was planned for tomorrow to mark the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to NATO and the 35th anniversary of the MiG-29 aircraft being adopted by the Bulgarian Air Force. | BGNES
