Third Military Aircraft Crash in Russia This Year: Su-34 Again Crashes Near Nizhny Novgorod Region
Russia has recorded the third aviation disaster involving the Russian Aerospace Forces within a single year. This time, a supersonic fighter-bomber Su-34 crashed near the village of Veletma in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to local sources and Russian news agencies, the aircraft fell into a forest area close to the Savaleyka military airfield, which hosts a branch of the 4th State Center for Flight Personnel Training and Military Tests of the Russian Defense Ministry. Fortunately, the two pilots on board ejected safely, and there are no reports of casualties or damage on the ground. The wreckage of the plane was completely destroyed at the crash site, with rescue teams already deployed to the scene. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the crash occurred during a scheduled training flight. Officials stated that, during approach for landing, a system failure caused one of the landing gear struts to malfunction. Despite attempts by the crew to fix the issue mid-flight, the situation escalated, leading pilots to execute an emergency ejection. Both aviators remain alive and well. The aircraft fell in a remote area, and recovery operations are ongoing to address the aftermath of the incident.