MOSCOW:- A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria on Thursday, killing both pilots, Moscow's defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies. "As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene," the statement said. The ministry said the plane had not come under fire, adding that "according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine".–AFP

The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86.</s>A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria on Thursday, killing both pilots, Moscow’s defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies.

 “As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.

 Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene,” the statement said.

 The ministry said the plane had not come under fire, adding that “according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine”.

 The accident brings Russia’s official military losses in Syria to 86. The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

 But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.—AFP</s>This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

An advanced Russian fighter plane has crashed in Syria, killing both members of its crew.



The Russian military said the two-seater Sukhoi-30SM jet crashed on Thursday morning shortly after takeoff from its Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province.

The defence ministry in Moscow was quoted as saying the two crew members had tried in vain to save the plane until the last moment.

“According to preliminary information, the reason for the aviation disaster could have been birds getting into the engine,” the RIA news agency cited Moscow as saying. “The plane was not struck by any projectile.”

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The Sukhoi-30SM is one of Russia’s most advanced fighters and performed its maiden flight in 2012. It has been used in Syria to launch air-to-ground missiles at rebel targets and to escort attack jets and strategic bombers.

The crash brings Russia’s official military losses in Syria to 86.

The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Khmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

Russian nationals are also regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.

Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report</s>An advanced Russian fighter plane has crashed in Syria shortly after takeoff, killing both members of its crew, the Russian military has said.



The two-seater Sukhoi-30SM jet crashed on Thursday morning after taking off from Russia’s Hmeymim airbase in Latakia province. According to agencies, the Ministry of Defence in Moscow said its two crew members had tried in vain to save the plane until the last moment.

“According to preliminary information, the reason for the aviation disaster could have been birds getting into the engine,” the RIA news agency cited Moscow as saying. “The plane was not struck by any projectile.”

The plane was one of Russia’s most advanced fighter aircrafts and performed its maiden flight in 2012. In Syria it was used to launch air-to-ground missiles at rebel targets and to escort attack jets and strategic bombers.

The crash brings Russia’s official military losses in Syria to 86.

The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeymim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.

Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report</s>Baku. 10 October. REPORT.AZ/ Russia's Sukhoi Su-24 bomber skidded off runway during the take-off in Syria on Tuesday and the crew was killed.

The accident occurred at the Hmeymim air base, in Latakia governorate.

"The plane’s crew failed to eject and died," Russian ministry of defense said.</s>A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed off the Syria coast, killing two pilots on board, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed.

The plane crashed over the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday morning, shortly after it took off from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, the ministry added. Pilots "fought to take the aircraft under control till the last minute," the Russian Defense ministry said. Both pilots died as the result of the incident.

"A Russian Su-30SM fighter plane crashed over the Mediterranean Sea at around 9:45 a.m. Moscow time [06:45 GMT] when gaining height after taking off from the Hmeymim airfield. Both pilots, which were fighting to save the plane until the last moment, died," the statement read.

The crash may have been caused by a bird hitting the engine, the ministry said, citing preliminary data. The aircraft was not shot down.

The last similar incident occurred in March, when a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed during landing at Hmeymim airfield, killing the 33 passengers and six crew members on board.

As a reminder, Russian military aircraft have been stationed in Syria as part of a deal between Moscow and Damascus. In 2017, Russian and Syrian authorities agreed to prolong their presence in the country after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of a significant number of troops from Syria. Khmeimim Airbase near Latakia and the naval site in the port city of Tartus have been handed over to Russia for 49 years with an option of automatic extension.</s>MOSCOW (Reuters) - An advanced Russian multi-role fighter plane crashed in Syria on Thursday morning shortly after take-off, killing both members of its crew, the Russian military was cited as saying by Russian news agencies.

The two-seater Sukhoi-30SM jet crashed after taking off from Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province. Agencies cited the Ministry of Defence in Moscow as saying its two crew members had tried in vain to save the plane until the last moment.

“According to preliminary information, the reason for the aviation disaster could have been birds getting into the engine,” the RIA news agency cited the ministry as saying. The plane was not struck by any projectile.”

The plane was among Russia’s most advanced and performed its maiden flight in 2012. In Syria, it was used to launch air-to-ground missiles at rebel targets and to escort attack jets and strategic bombers.</s>A Russian fighter jet has crashed off the coast of Syria killing both pilots 'after a bird strike'.

The Kremlin says the SU-30SM war plane came down in the Mediterranean off the coastal city of Latakia this morning.

Pilots 'fought to take the aircraft under control till the last minute', according to Moscow defence officials.

Pictures have emerged on social media claiming to show the scene of the crash and smoke rising over the sea.

The plane had earlier taken off from the Khmeimim Airbase and was not shot down, they said.

'As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene,' a statement said.

The ministry said the multi-role fighter jet had not come under fire, adding that 'according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine'.

The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86.

The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.</s>The plane may have been affected by a bird flying into its engine, news agency RIA-Novosti reported, quoting a statement from the defense ministry,

The plane was gaining altitude after taking off from Hmeimim airbase in Syria before it crashed, the ministry said.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a Russian military jet fall in the water off the coast of the town of Jableh, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Hmeimim, which is near Latakia, about 241 kilometers (150 miles) north of Damascus, is Russia's largest airbase in Syria.

In March, 39 people, including military personnel, were killed when a Russian transport plane crashed while trying to land at Hmeimin, Russian state media reported. All 33 passengers and six crew members were killed in the crash, RIA-Novosti reported, citing the Defense Ministry. In December 2016, a Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft crashed after taking off from the Adler airport near the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, killing 84 passengers and eight crew members . The plane was carrying more than 60 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian army's official dance and choir company, on its way to Syria to give a holiday performance for troops.</s>Just in: 2 killed as Russian Su-30 jet crashes off Syrian coast (PHOTOS)

A Russian military jet has crashed off the coast of Syria’s Latakia, killing two pilot on board, Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed.

The pilots tried to save it.

The information so far indicate that a bird was sucked into one of the engines.
A Russian Sukhoi-30SM crashes after leaving an airbase in Khmeimim, Latakia, Syria. Both crew die.