A Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet has crashed during a training exercise, resulting in the death of two pilots on board.
According to reports the aircraft went down in the Kaliningrad region on August 12, 2023.
Witnesses described hearing a large explosion following the crash, details of which were later confirmed by Russian authorities.
“On August 12, while performing a training flight in the Kaliningrad region, a Su-30 aircraft crashed in a deserted area. The flight was carried out without ammunition. The crew died,” the Western Military District said in a statement.
Early investigations following the crash have indicated that the incident was caused by a technical malfunction.
The Russian Su-30 fighter jet has taken a prominent role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it is not the first time within the last 12 months that the aircraft has been involved in a catastrophic crash.
On October 23, 2022, a Su-30 fighter jet crashed into a residential house in a Siberian town of Irkutsk, killing both pilots.
The crash destroyed a house where two families lived, but the residents were not at home at the time.
Electric lines were also damaged in the crash, which resulted in power being cut to over 150 houses.
According to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations at the time, the aircraft was conducting a test flight.