INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Authors: JordanThe ministry said the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engineMoscow, Russia:
A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria on Thursday, killing both pilots, Moscow's defence ministry
said in a statement carried by news agencies."As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM
crashed into the Mediterranean Sea
Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene," the statement said.The ministry
said the plane had not come under fire, adding that "according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird
falling into the engine".The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86.The most recent acknowledged military loss
came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.But Russian nationals are
regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.(Except for the
headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
