A Kazakhstan MIG-31 fighter jet that was recently serviced by a Russian facility has crashed while staging night exercises, killing one pilot and injuring the other, the Kazakh military said Wednesday.
A "technical failure" is suspected of causing the crash around 10:41 p.m. Tuesday near the Kazakh city of Karaganda, the Kazakh Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by Interfax.
The two pilots successfully ejected from the plane, but the captain, Colonel Marat Yedigeyev, subsequently died of injuries sustained in the accident, the ministry said. The co-pilot, Major Ruslan Galimzyanov, has been hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The ministry did not elaborate on the nature of the technical failure but noted that the plane had recently returned to the Kazakh air force after undergoing scheduled maintenance work in the Russian city of Rzhev in the Tver region in December. The ministry said the plane had flown only 42 hours after the maintenance work and that it had contacted the Rzhev facility, Aircraft Repair Plant No. 514, in connection with the crash.
A criminal investigation has been opened.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
