Breaking: Bulgarian Su-25 crashed
Wednesday 28 September 2022, a Su-25 from the Bulgarski Voenno Vzdushni Sili (BVVS, Bulgarian Air Force) crashed around 14.00 hours local time near Bezmer 22 Air Base.
Military District Prosecutor Colonel Hristo Tinev said “The pilot lost control during the landing at Bezmer air base, necessitating ejecting the aircraft." According to official information the pilot has been transported by air to the Military Academy in Sofia and he is in good general condition.
This is the second Su-25 that was lost by crashes in nearly 36 years of service within the Bulgarian Air Force. On 17 April 1989, there was an incident during a bomb attack on the Pitovo training ground causing the Su-25K (serial 243) to crash and sadly killing the pilot.
In total the Bulgarian Air Force operated 42 Su-25s of which only eight (six single seat Su-25Ks and two double seat Su-25UBKs) were still in service, and received major overhaul by the 558th Aviation Repair Plant at Baranovichi (Belarus) during 2020 and 2021.
They belong to 22 Shturmova Aviacionna Basa (22.ShtAB) based at Bezmer 22 Air Base in the east of Bulgaria.
According to unofficial information the plane involved in today’s incident is Su-25K 254. This was the eighth and final Su-25 that was re-delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force after the major overhaul.
Picture by Rene Sleegers (old colour scheme)