Russian Radio: Ukrainian pilot caught trying to hijack Su-24 to Russia

Russian TV channel tvzvezda reported that on October 1, 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested a pilot of this country on charges of hijacking a plane to go to Russia.

Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft.

Tvzvezda reported: According to information provided by the SBU press service, the pilot attempted to hijack a Su-24M. He recruited an accomplice and was promised $30,000 and the rank of colonel of the Russian Army.

Information provided by the SBU said the pilot planned to hijack the fighter jet and then land it at Russia's Kursk airport. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) is currently opening a criminal investigation into treason and if found guilty, the pilot could face 10-15 years in prison.

This is the latest serious incident between Ukraine and Russia in the Eastern Ukraine issue. Previously, Ukraine continuously accused the Russian Army of invading Ukrainian territory as well as supporting the separatists in the East.

The Su-24 is a bomber with a swing-wing design manufactured by the Soviet Union. The Su-24 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.35, a range of 2,775km, and is capable of carrying 8 tons of weapons including missiles, guided bombs, rockets, etc.

Currently, the Ukrainian army has about 25 operational Su-24s and nearly 100 are in storage. During the recent war in Eastern Ukraine, at least one Ukrainian Su-24 was shot down on June 14 by a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile of the Eastern Self-Defense Forces.

Source of the Highway