Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Delivery of two medical helicopters delayed until next year

On February 1, 2024 the first helicopter of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service arrived in Bulgaria.
Photo: HEMS

There is a further delay in the delivery of the next two air ambulances to Bulgaria, the Italian manufacturer has said in a letter to the Ministry of Health. In the letter, the contractor, Leonardo S.p.A., set new deadlines for the arrival of the aircraft to January and February next year. 

Delays in procuring key components for the two helicopters have pushed back final assembly, according to the manufacturer, which is already facing penalties for late delivery.

In February, the country received one of six medical helicopters purchased with EU cohesion policy funds for Bulgaria's newly established Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. 

The second air ambulance was due to be delivered in June, but in May the manufacturer announced that delivery would be delayed until November, while the third helicopter would be delivered as planned by the end of December 2024.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Checks are being carried out for illegal trade in Bulgarian seaside resorts

The Ministry of Tourism has carried out nearly 200 checks in Bulgarian Black Sea resorts over the past month, Minister Miroslav Borshosh reported.  An inspection is currently underway in Sunny Beach. “We want to put a stop to all types of illegal..

published on 7/2/25 3:01 PM

YES Bulgaria students return after spending a year studying at U.S. high schools

Twenty-two Bulgarian students who spent the last school year at high schools across the United States, from Texas to Vermont, have returned home . The exchange was organised by the YES Bulgaria programme. Over the past few months, the teenagers not..

published on 7/2/25 2:51 PM

The government is set to improve traffic management during the summer season

Tighter controls on main roads, tougher penalties for violators and improved traffic management during the summer months — these were the measures ordered by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at the start of the Cabinet meeting. In..

published on 7/2/25 1:23 PM