Russian plane crashes into Syrian waters, killing both pilots

ERBIL, (Kurdistan 24) – A Russian fighter jet has crashed into the sea just off the Syrian coast, killing both pilots, said the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday.

The incident occurred that morning over the Mediterranean Sea, shortly after it took off from Hmeymim airbase in Syria, the ministry said in a statement released to the media.

Photographs taken from the port city of Jableh and posted on social media appear to show a plume of smoke rising from the water immediately following the incident. Jableh is in Syria's province of Latakia, where Hmeymim base is located.

"A Russian Su-30SM fighter plane crashed over the Mediterranean Sea at around 9:45 a.m. Moscow time [06:45 GMT] when gaining height after taking off from the Hmeymim airfield. Both pilots, which were fighting to save the plane until the last moment, died," the statement read, as reported by Russian media agencies.

"The plane was not struck by any projectile," said the statement. “According to preliminary information, the reason for the aviation disaster could have been birds getting into the engine."

Russia has previously used the Su-30SM fighter in Syria to launch air-to-ground missiles at rebel targets and to escort attack jets and strategic bombers. The plane is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in Russia's fleet.

In March, a Russian military transport plane crashed while landing at Hmeymim airbase, killing 26 passengers and six crew members on board.