Russian fighter jet crashes, pilots reportedly safe

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB fighter jet crashed in the Petrozavodsk district of Russia's northeast Karelia Republic on Thursday, June 28 morning, although the pilots ejected safely according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

"The plane went down in the region of the village of Besovets, and a search is underway for the two crew members," RIA Novosti quoted a local law enforcement source as saying.

There were no other injuries or damage on the ground, according to initial reports.

The crash may have been caused by a bird being ingested into one of the aircraft’s two AL-31 turbofan engines, a spokesman for the Western Military District said.

“Also, it is possible one of the flight control systems failed,” the source said. “More precise preliminary information as to the cause of the incident is likely to be received in the next two days after an investigation.”

The aircraft, which was on a routine weather check flight, was unarmed when it crashed, Defense Ministry Spokesman Colonel Igor Konashenkov said.

The Su-27UB is a two-seat conversion trainer variant of the Su-27 single-seat fighter aircraft.