The pilot of a Russian MiG-29 has been killed after the fighter jet crashed near Astrakhan in the southern part of the country.
Air Force Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev said: "A pilot has been killed in a fighter crash. We are investigating this incident and, according to preliminary data, the crash was caused by air equipment failure."
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The aircraft fell 30km south of Privolzhsky airport in the Astrakhan region. The ground properties were not damaged as the jet crashed at a distance from homes, officials said.
Russian Defence Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov told Itar-Tass news agency: "A fighter of the air force combat training and tactical employment went out of control and fell 30km northeast of the city of Astrakhan in a steppe. It has caused no destruction on the ground.
"The flight supervisor gave the pilot a command to eject. However, the pilot, trying to save the aircraft, remained at the steering wheel and was killed."
The MiG-29 aircraft have been involved in several crashes in the past. Russia suspended the flights of the fighter in 2008 after two crashes that year. Only 30% of them were cleared for flying after a month.
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By GlobalDataThe fighters are in use in Germany, Poland, India, Sudan, Algeria and Mongolia among others.
Image: A file photo of MiG-29 UB. Photo: courtesy of Dmitry A. Mottl.
