Su-34 fighter jet crashed in Russia: crew killed

Iryna Balachuk — Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 07:29

Su-34. Photo: Wikipedia

A Russian Su-34 fighter jet has crashed in mountainous terrain in North Ossetia, killing its crew.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti, RBC and TASS with reference to the Russian Defence Ministry

Details: The jet reportedly crashed during a routine training flight.

Early reports indicate that technical malfunction was the cause of the accident.

The Mash Telegram channel wrote that the tragedy occurred near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau, where an explosion was heard at night.

TASS reported that a Su-34 had crashed in an uninhabited area, with no ground damage reported. The aircraft was carrying two pilots.

An investigation commission from the Russian Aerospace Forces has flown to the crash site.

Why this is important: After sanctions were imposed against Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine, there has been an increase in aircraft accidents in Russia. This has been attributed to a shortage of necessary parts which Russia used to import from Western countries.

Background:

A drone attack on Russia’s North Ossetia was recorded for the first time on Saturday, 8 June. Aircraft used for attacking Ukraine take off from an air base there.
On 5 February, a Mi-8 transport helicopter crashed in Prionezhsky District in the Republic of Karelia in Russia.
On 12 March, an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft crashed near Severny air base in Ivanovo Oblast, Russia. There were eight crew members and seven passengers on board.
On 14 March, a Mi-8 helicopter carrying 20 people crashed in Russia's Magadan Oblast, killing at least two people according to some reports, while others indicated one fatality.
On 19 April, a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai. The Russians had been using aircraft of this type to land strikes on Ukraine. The Russians claimed that the crash was due to a technical malfunction. However, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraine's Air Force, reported that the aircraft had been downed by anti-aircraft missile units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in cooperation with Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.