BULGARIAN ATTACKS

ON AIRLINER

ISRAEL INVESTIGATORS'

REPORT

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

JERUSALEM (ISRAEL SIDE), AUG. 25

The Government to-day published the report of the committee which investigated the crash of the Constellation aircraft, owned and operated by El-Al Israel Airlines, over Bulgarian territory on July 27. All 58 passengers and crew were killed.

The report states that the airliner was attacked by two Bulgarian jet fighters after it had reached the Yugoslav-Bulgarian border, and that it did not receive any warning before the attack took place, when the Constellation was at an altitude of approximately 18,000ft. A second attack occurred when the aircraft was already showing signs of fire and was seeking a place to land. A third attack was made when the Constellation was at 2,000ft. and still under control. The aircraft then disintegrated.

ROCKETS INDICATED

Evidence seen by the investigators suggested to them that the aircraft was attacked not only with machine-gun fire but also with weapons firing projectiles of a size and explosive effect which indicate a possibility of rockets having been used. The investigators state, however, that they vwere prevented by the Bulgarian authorities from making exhaustive inquiries and that, in any event, it was evident that a great deal of wreckage had been removed. They interrogated witnesses on both the Greek and Yugoslav sides. whose evidence confirmed that the aircraft was on its normal course when intercepted by the fighters, and that it broke up at 2,000ft. after the third attack.

It is understood that a Note, setting out the technical concltisions of the investigating committee and the legal responsibility of Bulgaria. will be dispatched by the Government of Israel to the Bulgarian Government in a few days.