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Pilot killed in fighter-jet crash in southern Russia

Training flights were conducted without ammunition on board

MOSCOW, June 21. /TASS/. A Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet crashed in Russia’s Rostov region, killing its pilot, the Southern Military District’s press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

"An Su-25 aircraft crashed during a routine training flight in the Rostov region on June 21. The pilot was killed in the crash," the statement reads.

The press service noted that training flights were conducted without ammunition on board. The plane crashed in a deserted area, causing no damage on the ground.

"According to preliminary reportes, the crash could have been caused by a technical failure. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ commission is working on the crash site," the statement said.

The Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft is designed to provide close support to ground forces day and night and destroy targets with designated coordinates round-the-clock in any weather conditions. The plane is armed with the GSh-30-2 gun, KAB-500 and KAB-1500 guided bombs, UAK-23-250 and SPPU-1 guns, the Vikhr system and various air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles.