Europe 375
Coding changes: Start Date changed from May 1, 1952. End Date changed from May
1, 1952.
MID#2601
Dispute Number: 2601
Date(s): July 20, 1986 to July 23, 1986
Participants: 640 Turkey/355 Bulgaria
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In 1984, a Bulgarian Airlines plane crashed near Sofia. The wife of a
Turkish passenger who died sued Bulgarian Airlines but never received payment. On
July 20, 1986, Turkish authorities seized a Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev 154 passenger
plane at Istanbul and announced their intent to hold the aircraft until the airline paid
the debts to the wife. Meanwhile, Bulgarian Airlines sent another plane to get the
passengers. On July 23, Bulgarian Airlines deposited $150,000 into a Turkish bank
account to cover the wife’s claim and the Turkish authorities let the plane go.
MID#4439
Dispute Number: 4439
Date(s): April 17, 2008
Participants: 355 Bulgaria/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Bulgarian coast guard forces fired on a Turkish fishing boat in Bulgarian
waters, killing one fisherman.
355 Bulgaria/666 Israel
MID#3219
Dispute Number: 3219
Date(s): July 27, 1955
Participants: 355 Bulgaria/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Bulgaria shot down an Israeli airline jet when the plane strayed 100 miles
across the Bulgarian border. Bulgaria claimed it could not identify the plane, so they
shot it down. In their first statement Bulgaria said the plane was shot down by anti-
aircraft guns; a week later, however, Bulgaria made an announcement that the airliner
had actually been downed by Bulgarian fighter jets. The United States and Britain
protested the action.