MiG-31 fighter jet crashes in Russia, 2 killed

A MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in Russia's Perm region killing two pilots on board. The plane crashed near Bolshoye Savino airport, Interfax reports with reference to the press service of the local EMERCOM department.

Photo: MiG-31 at 2005 MAKS Airshow

Oleg Chirkunov, the governor of the region, said that the plane crashed in the ravine not far from the village of Bolgary, but there were no victims among the civilians.

The jet went off radar screens at 6:41 a.m. MSK, 11 kilometers far from the city of Perm. The reason of the crash remains unknown. The MiG-31 began to lose altitude and crashed soon after take off. Sources from RIA Novosti news agency said that the plane exploded in the air.

The remains of the two pilots were found on the scene.

There were no weapons on board the fighter jet, defense officials said. In connection with the crash of the MiG-31 fighter jet in the Perm region, Russia's Air Forces has suspended all flights of this type of aircraft. The flights of MiG-31 will be resumed when specialists determine the reasons that led to the crash of the aircraft.  

The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor aircraft developed to replace the MiG-25 "Foxbat". The MiG-31 was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau based on the MiG-25. Russia's Air Force has over 160 such planes; 100 other aircraft are in reserve.