A Russian MiG-29 fourth-generation fighter jet crashed near Moscow on Thursday, injuring one of the pilots, the Interfax news agency reported.
The plane was a training model with two seats. Both pilots ejected before the plane hit the grass near Chemodurovo, a village southeast of Moscow. One was airlifted to a Moscow hospital, the agency reported, citing local police. No one else was injured.
The plane, a version of the famous 1980s Soviet jet, was owned and operated by its manufacturer, the Mikoyan aircraft design company, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax.
The Russian air force does not operate planes that model, and the crash will not affect military flights, an unidentified military source told Interfax.
Russia's Investigative Committee announced on its website that it had already seized company documents, and plans to survey the crash site and take fuel samples as part of an investigation into the crash. The case is being pursued as a possible breach of transport safety laws.
Investigators are looking into the possibility of technical fault and pilot error, news agency RIA Novosti said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
