Update: Air show in Bucharest on Aviation Day. President Iohannis not invited. Defence Ministry apologizes

President Klaus Iohannis hasn’t been invited to attend the ceremonies marking the Aviation Day in Bucharest, while the Presidential Administration hasn’t sent any flower wreaths, as they have done up to now, official sources told local news agencies.

The Day of the Romanian Air Force was celebrated in Bucharest on Thursday through military and religious ceremonies at the Air Heroes monument in the Aviatorilor Square.

Military aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces, of the Interior Ministry, of the Romanian Intelligence Service flashed across the sky, as well as Iacarii Acrobats.

Tens of people watched the show.

However, President Iohannis delivered a message on the Aviation Day on Thursday, stating that the military’s devotion and boldness represent a benchmark for us and for the generations to come.

“(…) At present, the Air Force military attend complex missions under aegis of ANTO, UN, OSCE and European Union, proving professionalism and patriotism,” the Romanian President said, while commemorating the pioneers of the Romanian and world aviation, like Aurel Vlaicu, Traian Vuia, Henri Coandă, Elie Carafoli and Hermann Oberth.

“We are also celebrating those in the civil transport and utilitarian aviation, but also the people addicted to sports aviation, who are contributing to the development of the economy and to promoting Romanian sports,” the head of state added.

At the end of the message, the President thanked all military and civil military for the exemplar way of doing their job, while voicing his admiration and gratitude for their “love for flight and abnegation” for their job, without “considering the inevitable restrictions and sacrifice.”

Later on in the day, the Defence Ministry apologized for not inviting the head of state at the Aviation Day ceremonies, arguing it has been a “bureaucratic error”.

“The National Defence Ministry apologizes for the errors that came up in sending the invitations to attend the Romanian Aviation Day to the Presidential Administration and to central public authorities. Defence minister Adrian Tutuianu has ordered urgent actions to cut the bureaucratic malfunctions which led to this regrettable situation,” Defence Ministry says in a press release.