MOSCOW REGION — A Russian Su-57 multirole fighter jet crashed during a training flight in the Moscow Region on Thursday afternoon. The pilot ejected safely before the aircraft crashed, and no casualties or injuries on the ground were reported.
The crash occurred in the Odintsovo District near Zvenigorod, between the Shikhovo neighborhood and the village of Lutsino. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft crashed in an open field and caught fire. Photos shared by local Telegram channel Zven_Info showed a large fire and thick black smoke rising from the crash site.
Russia's Ministry of Defense confirmed through TASS that an unarmed military training aircraft crashed and that the pilot survived. The ministry did not officially identify the aircraft type. However, Telegram channel Mash reported that the aircraft was a Su-57 fighter.
Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case under Article 351 of the Russian Criminal Code to examine possible violations of flight rules or pre-flight preparation procedures. A Ministry of Defense commission is also investigating the accident. Unofficial claims from some Russian military bloggers suggested the aircraft may have been brought down by friendly fire, but these claims have not been confirmed by Russian authorities.
The Su-57 is Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Sukhoi and entered service in late 2020. Thursday's accident follows the 2019 crash of the first production-model Su-57 and reported damage to two Su-57 aircraft during Ukrainian drone strikes in 2024.
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