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Body of one of Su-34 pilots found in Tatar Strait

Two Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber jets collided in Russia’s Far East on Friday while performing a planned training flight over the Sea of Japan

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. /TASS/. The body of one of the pilots of the Sukhoi Su-34 bombers that collided in Russia’s Far East earlier on Friday has been found in the Tatar Strait, a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry said.

"A ship involved in the rescue operation found and lifted a life raft with the dead body of a Su-34 pilot," a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry said.

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Su-34 co-pilot rescued — Defense Ministry

"The body of the second air navigator from the second Su-34 was lifted to the Elektron fishing boat involved in the search operation at 03:18 local time (20:18 Moscow time)," a spokesman the Vladivostok maritime rescue center told TASS, adding that the search for two other pilots is complicated by unfavorable weather conditions.

According to earlier reports, an air navigator from one of the crashed jets has been recued.

Two Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber jets collided in Russia’s Far East on Friday while performing a planned training flight over the Sea of Japan 35 kilometers off the coast. Both crews managed to eject. The search and rescue operation continues, with warships, aircraft and civilian vessels involved in it. An ambulance plane was dispatched to the area to provide medical assistance.

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