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MiG-29 fighter crashes in south Russia

According to preliminary data, two possible causes of MiG-29 crash are being considered: technical breakdown and a bird in engine

© ITAR-TASS/Dmitry Rogulin

MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. A MiG-29 fighter on Friday crashed near the Kushchyovskaya airfield in the Krasnodar Territory in southern Russia, the pilot ejected and has already been evacuated, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Today at 14:37 Moscow Time, near the Kushchyovskaya airfield of the Krasnodar Territory, a MiG-29 jet crashed during a scheduled practice flight," the ministry said.

"The flight was carried out without ammunition. The pilot of the jet ejected and was evacuated by a ground search team. His life is out of danger," it said.

According to preliminary data, two possible causes of MiG-29 crash are being considered: technical breakdown and a bird in engine.

Flights of Russian MiG-29 fighters have been suspended until the causes of the crash of such a jet in south Russia have been clarified, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

"The Air Force commander-in-chief has decided to suspend flights of MiG-29 jets until the causes of the crash are clarified. A commission of the Russian Federation’s Defense Ministry is heading for the accident site to investigate the causes of the crash," the ministry said.

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