Russian Su-30 fighter jet likely crashed: Social media reports on disappearance near Crimea
Photo: Russian fighter jet (Ministry of Defense of Russia)
Last night, a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet went missing near Sevastopol. The military aircraft likely crashed, according to Krymskiy veter.
According to the source, Russian Su-30SM, along with a Su-35, were conducting Kh-31P missile launches at mainland Ukraine while flying over the sea north of Sevastopol.
The Russian Su-30SM launched 4 out of 6 available missiles before disappearing from radar screens. The fighter jet was based at the airfield in Krymsk (Krasnodar Krai, Russia).
According to sources from Krymskiy veter, the search operation involved Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters from the Black Sea Fleet airfield in Kacha.
Photo: Missing Russian Su-30 fighter jet (t.me/Crimeanwind)
In the area marked on the map, an oil slick about 3 km in diameter and aircraft debris, including a wing, were found. Nothing could be recovered.
The crash of Russian aircraft and helicopters is not unusual. Such incidents occur from time to time across Russia. For example, at the end of last month, a Mi-8 helicopter with a couple of dozen people on board went missing in Russia.
Earlier this summer, a Russian Su-34 bomber crashed in North Ossetia, resulting in the death of the crew.
Additionally, last year, a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to the FSB crashed in the Chelyabinsk region. Preliminary reports indicate that everyone on board perished.
