Russian warplane collides throughout drill

(MENAFN) A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed during a training exercise in the Nizhny Novgorod Region on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow confirmed. Both the pilot and navigator successfully ejected from the aircraft and survived the incident.

According to the ministry, the crash occurred due to a malfunction in the landing gear system during the landing phase. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue mid-flight, the pilot ultimately chose to abandon the plane.

Military officials noted that the crew ensured the aircraft was directed away from populated areas before ejecting. The Su-34 was unarmed at the time, and no injuries or damage were reported on the ground.

“A rescue team has been dispatched to recover the crew and return them to their home air base. Both members are confirmed to be alive,” the ministry said.

This incident follows other recent aviation accidents involving Russian military aircraft. In April, a Tu-22M strategic bomber crashed in Irkutsk Region, resulting in the death of the pilot despite a successful ejection by the crew. A few weeks earlier, a Su-25 fighter jet also went down during a training flight in Primorsky Region, though the pilot survived after ejecting.

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