A Russian fighter jet has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take off from an aircraft carrier near the coast of Syria, the country’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
“As a result of a technical malfunction during a training flight an incident occurred to a carrier-based MiG-29,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
“The pilot catapulted and was delivered to the air carrier Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov by a rescue crew. The pilot was not hurt, and is ready for future missions.”
Shortly after three Russian MiG-29 aircraft took off from the aircraft carrier, one of the fighter jets appeared to have mechanical difficulties and tried to return to the aircraft carrier. The Russian jet splashed down in the water while attempting to land.
The flagship of the Russian Navy, aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, leads a fleet positioned in the eastern Mediterranean, which has been conducting reconnaissance missions over Syria since arriving in mid-October.
Russian Naval Aviation ordered 20 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB. These aircraft were all delivered by early 2016.