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

L-R - Assen Vassilev, Kiril Petkov and former PM Nikolai Denkov

We Continue the Change considers a no confidence vote in the government after July 9

Negotiations for a vote of no confidence in Rosen Zhelyazkov's government will begin after July 9, when Bulgaria's adoption of the euro becomes irreversible. "We Continue the Change" (PP) announced this at a National Assembly briefing, according to BTA...

published on 6/5/25 5:48 PM

Police busted a migrant smuggling ring operating from Syria and Iraq through Turkey

Sixteen people were arrested for trafficking illegal migrants, the Interior Ministry said. This operation was carried out by Bulgarian authorities on June 3. It took place in six districts of the country: Sofia, Burgas, Kardzhali, Stara Zagora, Haskovo..

published on 6/5/25 5:35 PM

Owners sought for the ferries "Heroes of Sevastopol" and "Heroes of Odessa"

The Bulgarian Maritime Training Center, is seeking state assistance to accelerate the procedures for the sale of the ferries "Heroes of Sevastopol" and "Heroes of Odessa" and the ship "Atanas Dimitrov", manager of the center, Dencho..

published on 6/5/25 4:42 PM