At least two people died and 19 more were injured in a fire that was caused by a fighter jet crash in the town of Yeysk, emergency services have confirmed
Eyewitnesses watch a fire in a residential building after the crash of a supersonic Su-34 fighter-bomber in Yeysk. © Sputnik / RIA News
At least two people were killed in an incident that saw a Su-35 multipurpose fighter jet crash outside a residential building in the Russian southern city of Yeysk, the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) said. Another 19 people have sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital, officials said, adding that four of them were in critical condition.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the jet’s pilots ejected to safety. The crash was caused by a plane engine malfunction, the ministry added, citing the pilots, who said one of the engines had caught fire almost immediately after the takeoff. The military added that the Su-35 was scheduled to perform a training flight.
The crash caused a major blaze that damaged at least 17 apartments, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region, where Yeysk is located.
READ MORE:
Apartment building ablaze after Russian military plane crash (VIDEOS)
According to the emergency services, the blaze at the scene was brought under control and the aircraft debris were extinguished. Evacuation of residents from nearby apartment buildings was called off, the Krasnodar governor said.
