Russian Su-30SM fighter crashes in Kaliningrad region; pilots eject
In short
A Russian Su-30SM military aircraft crashed in the Kaliningrad region on 21 October, and the pilots ejected. Jiemian, citing CCTV, said both pilots were injured, while the Russian Defence Ministry said the aircraft was on a training flight.
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Yicai reported on 21 October that a Russian Su-30SM aircraft had crashed and that the pilots ejected. China News Service, citing Russian media, said the Russian Defence Ministry announced on the 21st that an Su-30 fighter crashed that day in the Kaliningrad region during a routine training flight, and that the pilot ejected. [ 1 , 3 ]
Jiemian, quoting CCTV, gave more detail. It said two pilots ejected in time but were injured, and were taken to a military hospital with moderate injuries. It said the Defence Ministry reported the crew were not in danger of death, and that the aircraft fell in an uninhabited area without ammunition on board. None of the three reports gives a cause for the crash. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no basis for wider significance beyond the loss of a military aircraft during training. The cause of the crash is not stated.
Key facts
- A Su-30SM military aircraft crashed in Russia's Kaliningrad region on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Russian Defence Ministry said the aircraft crashed during a training flight. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The crew ejected; Jiemian, citing CCTV, said both pilots ejected in time but were injured. [ 2 ]
- The pilots were taken to a military hospital, and their injuries were described as moderate. [ 2 ]
- The Defence Ministry said the crew were not in danger of death. [ 2 ]
- The aircraft fell in an uninhabited area and carried no ammunition, according to the Defence Ministry as cited by Jiemian. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Cause of the crash None of the documents states why the aircraft crashed.
- Number of pilots and their condition Jiemian says two pilots were injured with moderate injuries, while China News Service refers only to the pilot ejecting and gives no injury details.