A Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a routine training flight on Friday, but both pilots managed to eject safely. Authorities confirmed that the aircraft was not carrying any weapons at the time of the incident.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, the Su-30 fighter jet went down during a scheduled training flight over the Crimean Peninsula.
The crash occurred at around 11am Moscow time (0900 GMT), with initial reports indicating no immediate cause for the incident.
Both crew members successfully ejected from the aircraft before it crashed. A ground search-and-rescue team quickly located and evacuated the pilots, and officials confirmed that their lives are not in danger.
Aircraft was unarmed
The defence ministry stated that the fighter jet was flying without any weapons or ammunition at the time of the crash. This suggests the flight was purely a routine training exercise rather than an operational mission.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to go down. An investigation is expected to be carried out to identify the factors behind the crash.
The crash comes just days after another deadly aviation incident in the same region.
Earlier this week, a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed over Crimea during a scheduled flight, killing all 29 people on board, including 23 passengers and six crew members.
Crimea, where the incident occurred, was annexed by Russia in 2014 and remains a strategically significant region. The latest crash adds to a series of military aviation incidents reported in the area.
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