A Russian fighter jet crashed in the northwestern republic of Karelia on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of both crew members, as reported by military and regional officials.
The incident occurred during a training flight of a Sukhoi Su-30, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. An official announcement indicated that the aircraft “went down in a remote area” and was not armed with any live weapons.
The crash took place around 7 p.m. local time in the Prionezhsky district, close to Lake Lososinskoe, as per the Telegram channel Baza, which is believed to have ties to law enforcement in Russia. There were no reported injuries to civilians in connection with the crash.
In the evening, Artur Parfenchikov, the head of the Karelia region, expressed his condolences on Telegram to the families and friends of the two pilots, who were affiliated with the 159th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Parfenchikov stated that emergency services were dispatched to the site of the crash and assured that the government would provide the families of the pilots with “the necessary support.”
Aircraft from the 159th Fighter Aviation Regiment are responsible for patrolling Russia’s border with Finland and play a vital role in the air defense of the area.
