Mystery plane triggers warning in NATO countries

Problem: The aircraft was not registered at any station and the transponder to detect the engine was turned off. The pilot did not respond to radio news.

This caused panic among the armies of various countries, especially in the wake of the Ukraine war. First, two Hungarian warplanes, and then two F16s each are said to have landed in the Roman and American air forces. US jets grounded in Romania as part of NATO mission They tried to communicate by hand signals, but the pilot reportedly did not respond.

Finally, in the Darkoviste, Bulgaria, the trail of an unknown pilot was lost. When Bulgarian police arrived at the former airport there, the engine was reportedly dropped and covered with tarpaulin. However, the engine was still hot.

The airport has been closed since 1998 and is owned by a local entrepreneur who uses the former runways as a parking lot and to dry herbs in the summer, according to local media.

This engine is said to be over 60 years old model of Piper Aztec PA-23-250. It has two seats and is said to have been previously registered in Lithuania under the code LY-LOO.

Lithuanian radio reporters were able to find the previous owner: Bronius Jaronskis, director of Nita Air Park in Lithuania. He said he sold the machine last week to a company he could not remember.

Three people had previously inspected the aircraft. “I can not say what country they are from. Maybe Ukrainians, maybe Romans or Bulgarians. I spoke to someone in Russian. I do not know their names, they are not interested in me,” Jaronskis was quoted as saying. .

For many years he tried to sell the old aircraft – so he was pleased with the interest in the engine. According to him, the starting point of the mysterious flight may have been the former military airport in the city of Panevezys in northern Lithuania.

Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Drakomir Sakov stressed that the machine has never been a threat to the public. A message indicates harsh air conditions and thunderstorms in the region. This makes the maneuvers more dangerous, but does not explain the flight across different national borders. Several affected states have launched investigations.