A aircraft mysteriously exploring the airspace of several countries Europe east without permission on Thursday (9/6). The incident put the air forces of several countries in the region on alert.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense said the plane had flown over Hungary, Serbia and Romania, before entering the Bulgarian air zone at 19:09 local time, Wednesday (8/6).
As reported AFPthe plane then landed and was abandoned in Bulgarian territory by the crew and pilot who until now mysteriously disappeared.
According to the Romanian Ministry of Defense, the plane was a Beechcraft type with two crew seats.
The ministry also said the plane had no approved flight schedule and its transponder was turned off.
In fact, the pilot did not respond to requests for radio and visual signals submitted by Romania.
In response to the plane’s appearance, two Hungarian Gripen fighter jets, two United States F-16 jets, and two Romanian F-16 jets were deployed. Each of them tried to intercept the mysterious plane and escort it to Bulgarian airspace.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov said his country did not immediately send the fighter jets because “the plane was not considered a threat at that time.”
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense also said that the flight conditions at that time were bad due to the emergence of thunderstorms and heavy rain.
After entering Bulgarian skies, the mysterious plane then stopped at the Danube City, Vidin, to refuel.
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry later found the plane abandoned at an old airfield near Targovishte.
Bulgarian Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov said the plane’s engine was still warm when it was found. However, the crew of the plane disappeared and is unknown to this day.
Rashkov also revealed the plane was 60 years old. The plane took off from Lithuania, also had time to pass through Poland and Slovakia.
The findings bring a total of seven countries passed by this mysterious plane.
(pwn/rds)
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