News

Two fighter jets collide over sea

Published

6 years ago

January 18, 2019

Two Russian Su – 34 fighter jets collided on Friday over the Sea of Japan during a training flight , with both crews managing to eject , the defence ministry said .The bombers touched mid – air and fell into the sea near the Strait of Tartary that separates the Sakhalin island from Russia ’ s mainland , according to the country ’ s Investigative Committee .

The committee also said it had opened a criminal investigation into the case .

The accident took place during a scheduled training exercise 35 kilometres ( 22 miles) from the shore in Russia ’ s Far East , Russian news agencies reported citing the defence ministry .

According to Russian media , the pilots were able to eject themselves out of their jets .

Russia ’ s television channel Zvezda , run by the defence ministry, reported that one of the pilots was evacuated by air to the city of Khabarovsk .

It cited a ministry source as saying that the pilot ’ s health was “ satisfactory ” .

The number of missing pilots has not been confirmed . Russian media initially reported that two pilots had been rescued , but later cited authorities as saying that only one pilot had been found .

According to Zvezda , an ongoing rescue operation continued in severe weather conditions on Friday involving six ships , three helicopters and three planes.

Neither of the jets carried munition .

( AFP )