VOLGOGRAD, February 11. /TASS/. The fate of the crewmembers of the Sukhoi Su-24 reconnaissance aircraft that crashed in Russia’s southern Volgograd region on Wednesday is being ascertained. Presumably, they have ejected, a law enforcement source told TASS.
The Russian Defense Ministry’s press service reported earlier Wednesday that a search and rescue team was dispatched to the crash area.
"The flight was performed without combat ammunition load by experienced pilots who have more than 1,000 logged flight hours each," the ministry said.
A special investigation commission has been established by the Defense Ministry to investigate the crash causes.
According to the ministry, the plane crashed at about 11:00 am, Moscow time (08:00 am GMT) during the landing approach seven kilometers from the airfield.