A MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in Russia, the country‘s Eastern Military District press office confirmed to the Russian news agency Interfax.
The incident happened on December 2, 2022, when the Mikoyan MiG-31 supersonic interceptor aircraft, was conducting a planned training flight, according to the government statement to the media.
The fighter jet crashed in Primorsky Krai, in the Far East region of Russia. According to Interfax, it did not carry any ammunition or other military equipment.
The flight crew has safely ejected from the fighter jet.
“The plane crashed in a deserted place, there is no destruction on the ground,“ the Eastern Military District explained.
Mi-8 helicopters of the local search and rescue services rushed to the scene of the crash.
An unidentified technical malfunction is currently suspected as the cause of the incident. An investigation was opened.
MiG-31 self-destruction#SlavaUkrainii pic.twitter.com/A3XNM0ZYwc
— Barbara (@BGarattini) December 2, 2022
What is the MiG-31?
The two-seat long-range MiG-31 fighter jet was first built for use by the Soviet Air Forces in 1979. Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 2,999 kilometers per hour (around 1,860 miles per hour) at high altitudes, it is one of the world‘s fastest combat jets.
Russia continues operating the Soviet-era fighter jet following the end of the Cold War and expects the MiG-31 to remain in service until at least 2030 or beyond. Though the exact variant of the crashed aircraft was not specified by the Russian authorities, the MiG-31K variant is capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.