Mi-17 helicopter crash in Bulgaria (V2)

(B2) A Bulgarian Mi-17 helicopter (Russian-made) crashed on Monday evening at the Krumovo air base (near Plovdiv in southern Bulgaria). For some unexplained reason, it was around 20:30 p.m. While the helicopter was on a training flight, it suddenly lost altitude and fell about 30 meters, the official confirmed. Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

Despite the intervention of rescue and fire personnel from the base, to prevent the explosion of the helicopter, the pilot (Plamen Pantileev) and the co-pilot (Stoyan Nedelchev) died. The third crew member, chief mechanic (Alexey Kamenov) was recovered, injured but conscious. Transported in first emergency, to the St. Georgi University Hospital in Plovdiv, he was then transferred to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia. His condition is stable, according to the Bulgarian authorities. An investigation has been initiated.

(NGV)

Paper updated Tuesday, June 12 with the latest information