A Russian fighter jet based on an aircraft carrier currently near Syria’s shores has crashed on a training mission - but the pilot bailed out safely, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said the crash into the Mediterranean of the MiG-29K fighter would not affect the operations of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier.

“The Russian aircraft carrier group is continuing its operations in the Mediterranean in accordance with plan,” it said in a statement.

The jet’s pilot was quickly rescued and suffered no injuries, the ministry added.

It said the jet crashed a few kilometres away from the carrier due to a technical problem while on its way to land, but did not elaborate.

The carrier and escorting ships arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea last week. Pilots of the carrier-borne fighters have been conducting flights over Syria to survey the area.

Nato has expressed concern about the Russian carrier group’s deployment, saying the move could presage an increase in the number of Russian air raids in Syria - particularly around the besieged city of Aleppo.</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Russian flotilla earlier passed through the English Channel

A Russian MiG-29 fighter jet has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea as it tried to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the country's defence ministry has said.

The pilot ejected safely from the plane, the ministry said.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is part of a group of Russian warships recently deployed near the Syrian coast.

Nato had expressed concern planes from the carrier would be used to attack civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Refuelling controversy

The defence ministry said the crash was as a result of "technical malfunction" during a training flight.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Mig 29s have been used by Russia for several decades

The jet came down a few kilometres from the carrier and the pilot was picked up by a rescue team.

"The pilot's health is not in danger," the ministry said, adding that he was ready to fly again.

It said that flight operations had not been suspended.

US officials quoted by Fox News said that the aircraft which crashed was a MiG-29K.

The aircraft appeared to have mechanical difficulties shortly after take-off, the Washington Post reported, pointing out that MiG-29Ks were added to the Kuznetsov's carrier wing during the summer.

The aircraft are specifically designed to handle the difficulties of operating from an aircraft carrier at sea, the paper reported, and are believed to be updated versions of MiG-29s, which have been in service since the 1980s.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Plans for the carrier to refuel in the Spanish port of Ceuta (pictured) were cancelled

The Admiral Kuznetsov - Russia's sole aircraft carrier - can carry dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters.

Its flotilla sailed from Russia to the Mediterranean via the English Channel last month.

The ships refuelled at sea off North Africa after plans to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta were cancelled amid Nato concerns over their mission.

The naval group also includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines.

The group joined about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast.

Russia has been supporting Syrian government forces in the country's civil conflict, most recently targeting rebels in eastern Aleppo.

Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.

The air strikes have been suspended recently but there are fears that, with the naval flotilla now in place, they will be stepped up again.</s>Citing the Russian Defense Ministry, Tass said the pilot of the MIG 29 ejected a few kilometers from the carrier and was recovered safely.

Russian state media outlet Sputnik quoted a Defense Ministry statement blaming the accident on a technical problem. It's unclear when the crash took place. A flotilla of Russian naval vessels, including the Soviet-era aircraft carrier, arrived off the Syrian coast on Saturday. Russia has been supporting Syrian government operations in the conflict in that country.

The Russian flotilla began its voyage last month , departing from the North Sea and skirting the coast of the UK. NATO and UK Ministry of Defense officials closely monitored the vessels.

In a statement issued at that time, the Russian navy said the voyage was "to ensure naval presence in the important areas of the World Ocean. Special focus will be made on safeguarding security of maritime traffic and other types of Russian maritime economic activity and also responding to new kinds of modern threats such as piracy and international terrorism."

But others have taken a different view. Analysis: why Russian warships are traveling through British waters "It's a show of force and a show of capabilities," Peter Felstead, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, told CNN last month. "In terms of strike missions, they (the Russians) could just as easily have conducted them with the land-based aircraft they already have in Syria."</s>In this 2004 file photo the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier seen in the Barents Sea, Russia. The Russian military says one of its the MiG-29 fighter jets based at a Russian aircraft carrier currently near Syria's shores has crashed on a training mission, but its pilot has survived.

MOSCOW — The Russian military says one of its fighter jets based on an aircraft carrier currently near Syria's shores has crashed on a training mission, but its pilot survived.

The Defense Ministry said Monday that the crash of the MiG-29 fighter will not affect the operations of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier.

It said the jet's pilot bailed out safely and was picked up by a rescue team.

The ministry said the jet crashed due to a technical problem while on its way to land on the carrier, but didn't elaborate on what went wrong.

The carrier and escorting ships arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea last week. Pilots of the carrier-borne fighters have been conducting flights over Syria to survey the area.
A Russian MiG-29 crashes in the Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coast. The pilot ejected safely from the plane and is unhurt.