Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet crashes again, pilot killed
The accident occurred as the plane was landing, becoming the second fatal incident involving Ukraine's Su-27 in the past two months.
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A Su-27 fighter in service with the Ukrainian Air Force. Photo:Airlines. |
"A Su-27 fighter crashed at 3 p.m. on December 15 while descending to land at a base in Zhytomyr province after a routine training mission. The cause of the accident is under investigation,"AFPciting the announcement issued by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the pilot was killed, but did not provide further details. This is the second fatal accident for the Ukrainian Air Force in the past two months, after a Su-27UB crashed during the Clear Sky 2018 exercise, killing a Ukrainian pilot and an American pilot.
The Su-27 is a 4th generation fighter developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s for air superiority. The aircraft is highly maneuverable, has a long range, and can carry up to 9 tons of various weapons. The Su-27 is the main heavy fighter in the Ukrainian Air Force with about 17 aircraft still in good condition.
