Su-30SM fighter jet crashes near Karaganda

Tengrinews.kz – On February 25, a Su-30SM fighter jet crashed in the Karaganda region during a planned training flight.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed the information. According to official data, the aircraft crew ejected in time.

"The pilots are alive, and their lives and health are not in danger. They are under the supervision of medical specialists. The crash site is cordoned off. There is no threat to the population or infrastructure," the Ministry of Defense press service reported.

A special commission from the Ministry of Defense, headed by the head of the flight safety department, has been established to investigate the causes and circumstances of the incident. The commission includes relevant aviation service specialists.

As a result of the investigation, a legal assessment will be made, and procedural decisions will be taken.

The Su-30SM fighter jet crashed two kilometers from the Sarai-Arka airport in Karaganda.

For reference, on April 16, 2020, a MiG-31 crashed near Karaganda. It was conducting a planned flight for combat duty preparation. After takeoff, a fire occurred in one of the engine compartments. The military pilots directed the aircraft to a field and managed to eject. At the time of the crash, the MiG-31 had been in service for 29 years, with a designated service life of 30 years.

After that incident, flights of MiG-31 fighter jets were suspended in Kazakhstan until the cause of the crash was determined.