A MiG-31 fighter jet crashed during a training flight in Russia’s Far East off the coast of Kamchatka, the country’s Pacific Fleet announced in a statement. The aircraft was lost over the waters of Avacha Bay, with the fate of its crew currently unknown.
“The plane was flying without ammunition,” according to the military.
Search and rescue teams have been despatched to the crash area to search for the crew and possible aircraft debris.
The crash is the second major accident this year involving an aircraft of this type. In April a MiG-31 crashed in Russia’s north, some 150 kilometers from the city of Murmansk. The jet fell in a deserted area, causing no injury or major damage on the ground, while its crew ejected to safety.
MiG-31 planes are Russia’s primary long-range interceptors. Conceived in the 1970s, the plane has been repeatedly modernized, ultimately becoming the main carrier for Russia’s hypersonic air-launched Kinzhal missiles. Aircraft of the type have seen somewhat limited action in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, launching Kinzhals at top-priority targets.