Alwaght- A Russia military jet has crashed in the Mediterranean Sea killing both pilots shortly after taking off from a Syrian air base, the country's Defense Ministry told the media on Thursday.
"At 09:45 on May 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter crashed in the Mediterranean during the climb shortly after taking off from the Khmeimim aird base. As follows from an onsite report, both pilots tried to keep the plane under control till the last moment. Both died," the Defense Ministry said. According to preliminary estimates, a bird hit the plane’s engine. "There was no fire impact on the plane," the Defense Ministry said.
The Su-30SM is the first warplane in the Su-30 family of “Flankers” to be lost by the Russian military.
The Khmeimim Air Base, is a Syrian airbase currently operated by Russia, located south-east of the city of Latakia in Hmeimim, Latakia Governorate, Syria. The base is of major strategic importance in the ongoing war against terrorists in the Arab state.
Russia has been conducting air raids against ISIS and other terrorist groups inside Syria at the Damascus government’s request since September 2015.
Since March 2011, the US and its regional allies, in particular Saudi Arabia have been conducting a proxy war by supporting terrorists to topple the Syrian government.
