Su-30 fighter crashes in Russia, crew safe
February 28th, 2012 - 6:01 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Feb 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a test flight in Russia Tuesday, but both the crew members ejected safely, officials said.
The crash occurred around 10.20 a.m. 130 km from Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
“Both crew members ejected safely but one was hurt on landing,” a regional administration source said.
The aircraft belonged to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory where Su-30s are manufactured.
Meanwhile, the defence ministry spokesman said Tuesday Russia has partially resumed flights of the Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers after one of them crashed earlier this month.
Col. Vladimir Drik said: “After tests, unit commanders will receive permission to resume flights of this type of aircraft.”
All Su-24s were grounded after one of them crashed in the woods of the Kurgan region during a routine flight Feb 13. Both pilots ejected safely.
The crash was the third of a Su-24 in Russia over the last four months. The two previous crashes occurred in October and December 2011.
The Su-24 is a two-seat, twin-engine fighter-bomber similar to NATO’s Tornado and Mirage 2000 planes.
It has been in service with the Russian Air Force since the mid-1970s. However, in recent years Russia has gradually been phasing out the planes, which have a patchy safety record.
According to the defence ministry, the Su-24 will be replaced with the new Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/vt
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