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

The drone that flew over Sofia Airport is of a military type and is used for espionage and surveillance

Border Police Director Anton Zlatanov
Photo: BTA-archive

The mysterious drone that made random maneuvers at Sofia Airport on February 7 and delayed six flights was hacked, manipulated, and was definitely not random. Large drones like the one used are military-type and are used for espionage and surveillance, Border Police Director Anton Zlatanov told public broadcaster BNT.

''A drone sold by a licensed company will not be able to fly over the airport because the area is restricted. This indicates that the drone was manipulated and that this was a deliberate action'', Anton Zlatanov said further.

The drone was apparently hacked, said Todor Ivandjikov, President of the Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association. ''In most drones, the software is programmed to include the airport as a restricted zone. This drone was apparently hacked or specially assembled, with its software allowing it to pass anywhere'', the expert commented.



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

More than 120 take part in the reenactment of the battle at Buzludzha

The last battle of the legendary Bulgarian voivode Hadji Dimitar and his men against the Ottoman troops in 1868 will be reenacted for the 11 th time, Nikolay Baynov from the National Association Tradition in Kazalnak told the BNR. More..

published on 7/19/25 9:10 AM

Weather forecast: Temperatures start to creep up over the weekend

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 10° C.  and 19° C., for Sofia 10° C.  During the day there will be sun with cumulus clouds after midday, and rain and thunder in some parts of the mountain regions of Southern Bulgaria. There will..

published on 7/18/25 6:35 PM
Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy Tommy Joyce (left to right).

The Energy Minister: The USA is a powerful ally on key regional projects.

A Bulgarian delegation led by Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov held a series of meetings with representatives of the US State Department and the Department of Energy in Washington . The discussions centred on strengthening the strategic partnership..

published on 7/18/25 6:16 PM