Sofia - Varna

On November 22, 1975 at 12:00 AM, Sofia - Varna experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-24, operated by Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, with the event recorded near Sofia-Vrazhdebna Sofia Province.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

46 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 43 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 6.5%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 42, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While parked on apron at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the airplane was deiced and the snow was removed before the crew was cleared to taxi to runway 10 for takeoff. However, the runway was closed for snow removal. When this was done, the crew was cleared for takeoff and just after liftoff from runway 10, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed on a bank of the Iskar River located by the airport. The copilot was killed and two passengers drowned. All other occupants were rescued, some of them were injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration LZ-ANA, MSN 67302708, year of manufacture 1966.