On this day in 1955, Bulgarian MiG fighter jets shot down El Al Flight 402, resulting in the deaths of all 58 people on board. The commercial flight was brought down over Bulgarian airspace under circumstances that led to immediate international condemnation.
The tragedy sparked a significant Cold War dispute regarding liability, accountability, and the pursuit of justice between nations aligned with opposing global blocs. The incident remains a notable historical event highlighting the severe tensions and dangers posed to civil aviation during the Cold War era.
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