THIS is the tragic moment an fighter jet exploded into a massive fireball killing two top gun pilots.
Dramatic footage of the crash shows the plane plunging to the ground and exploding on impact shortly before a military show in Bulgaria.
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Footage of the crash shows the plane plunging to the ground and exploding on impact shortly before a military show in Bulgaria.
Suddenly, the pilot pulls the plane up and shoots high into the air, apparently attempting to perform a loop-the-loop.
However, he appears to lose power and flips the plane around in a desperate attempt to pull out of the dive as the aircraft hurtles towards the ground.
The plane does not pull up in time and hits the ground hard, exploding instantly in a fiery inferno of black smoke and burning fuel.
Footage shows a large cloud of black smoke rising into the air as filming ends.
Prior to the crash, the aircraft, reportedly an L-39ZA Albatros, was performing acrobatic stunts during a training exercise before the airshow.
According to local media, the pilots identified as Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin, died instantly.
Bulgarian Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov stressed that it was a routine flight for which the pilots.
He said “exemplary pilots with exceptional experience” had been carefully preparing for several months, and the aircraft had recently undergone restoration.
He said: “Major Dimitrov was one of Bulgaria’s best and most experienced pilots.
“Lieutenant Dunkin was a great promise for the future. In view of the supreme sacrifice these pilots made in the line of duty, I declare September 15 a day of mourning in the armed forces.
“Flags will be lowered in memory of the fallen.”
The Bulgarian Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, cancelled the air show.
He said that an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances and causes of the incident.
Military prosecutors and investigators, as well as employees of the Military Police Service, are also investigating, according to local media reports.
The incident took place at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base, in the village of Graf Ignatievo, not far from Bulgaria’s second city, Plovdiv.
Closer to home, a pilot died after crashing his plane into an industrial area.
Police, ambulance and fire crews all converged on the estate in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, after residents reported an aircraft hurtling in low before smashing into the ground.
Joshua Poole, a local aviation enthusiast, told The Sun: “My parents called me to ask if I was ok because they thought it was a car crash.
“I drove up to make sure it wasn’t anyone we knew.
“There was just smoke everywhere.
A spokesperson for the force said: “The pilot of a light aircraft that crashed in an industrial estate near Chesterfield has died.
“Emergency services were called to land off Sheepbridge Lane, in Sheepbridge, Chesterfield, earlier today (Sunday 1 September).
“An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.
“The pilot was the only person on board and died in the collision. His family has been informed.
“Roads in the immediate area are closed and will remain shut for some time while the investigation continues.”
They added that the investigation would be handed over to the Air Accident Investigation Bureau.
Five facts on the L-39 Albatros
- The two-seater L-39 Albatros was designed in the late 1960’s for primary and advanced training including firing practice.
- The L-39 Albratros has featured in numerous movies including James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies.
- The L-39 has become the most used jet trainer in the world. Nearly 3,000 have been produced over the years and have been used to train pilots in the air forces of dozens of nations.
- The L-39 Albatros has a top speed of 470 miles per hour and a ceiling height of 37,000 feet. It’s known for its agility, which is due to its small size and lightweight
- The L-39 Albatros originates from a Czech production line. The Aero L-39 Albatros was produced in by Aero Vodochody, the worlds largest producer of military training aircraft.
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