The Russian defence ministry has said that two Russian Su-34
fighter jets collided on Friday over the Sea of Japan during a training
flight, with both crews managing to eject.
According to the Agence France Presse, AFP, the bombers touched
mid-air and fell into the sea near the Strait of Tartary that separates
the Sakhalin island from Russia’s mainland, according to the country’s
Investigative Committee.
The committee also said it had opened a criminal investigation into the case.
The accident took place during a scheduled training exercise 35
kilometres (22 miles) from the shore in Russia’s Far East, Russian news
agencies reported citing the defence ministry.
According to Russian media, the pilots were able to eject themselves out of their jets.
Russia’s television channel Zvezda, run by the defence ministry,
reported that one of the pilots was evacuated by air to the city of
Khabarovsk.
It cited a ministry source as saying that the pilot’s health was “satisfactory”.
The number of missing pilots has not been confirmed. Russian media
initially reported that two pilots had been rescued, but later cited
authorities as saying that only one pilot had been found.
According to Zvezda, an ongoing rescue operation continued in
severe weather conditions on Friday involving six ships, three
helicopters and three planes.
Neither of the jets carried munition.
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