KALININGRAD, Russia, — A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed during a scheduled training flight in the Kaliningrad region on Wednesday, October 21, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Both pilots ejected before impact and survived the incident.
The aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area of the Chernyakhovsk district, between the settlements of Timofeevka and Zeleny Bor, near a local cemetery. The Ministry confirmed that the aircraft was not carrying any ammunition or weapons.
A ground search-and-rescue team located and evacuated the two crew members. Although the Ministry stated that there was no threat to their lives, Russian media reports indicated that both pilots sustained injuries and were taken to a military hospital, where they were reported to be in moderate condition.
Videos circulated by online monitoring channels showed a fire and thick smoke at the crash site. No civilian casualties were reported, and authorities have not announced the cause of the crash.
The Su-30SM is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter used by the Russian military for air-to-air combat and air-to-ground missions. Further details about the incident and the investigation have not yet been released.
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