ULAN-UDE, September 7 (Itar-Tass) — Criminal proceedings have been instituted over the MiG-29 fighter crash in the Trans-Baikal Territory in which Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Hadzhiyarov was killed, the Military Investigation Department of the Eastern Military District told Itar-Tass on Friday.

“The criminal case was opened under the RF Criminal Code article “violation of the rules of flights and preparation for them,” the department specified.

The crash occurred on Thursday at 17:14 MSK. The MiG-29 fighter of the Russian Air Force crashed near the Domna settlement in the Trans-Baikal Territory, 30 kilometres southwest of a military airfield of the same name during a scheduled flight. The pilot who ejected was killed in the accident.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that “there were no casualties or destruction at the crash site, the flight was performed without ammunition.” Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has suspended flights of MiG-29 fighters until the causes of the crash are established.

The killed Air Force pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Hadzhiyarov was holder of the Order of Courage. He was decorated with the order after in 2007 he managed to land a burning MiG-29 fighter, steering the plane away from the Domna settlement.