Two test pilots die as the Su-30 plane crashes in Irkutsk

As a result of the crash of the Su-30 fighter jet in Irkutsk on October 23, Maxim Konyushin, an honored test pilot of the Russian Federation, and Viktor Kryukov, a military pilot of the second class and a test pilot of the third class, were killed. The latter was originally from Ukraine.

Igor Kobzev, the governor of the Irkutsk region, announced this.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is investigating the causes of the plane crash, considering two main versions – failure of aviation equipment and pilot error.

As it is reported, the Su-30 plane crashed during flight tests. The fighter fell onto a two-story private house. The owners of the house were not injured.

Currently, the inspection of the plane crash site continues, while fuel samples and a unified gas discharge station with medical oxygen have been removed. Chemical and forensic examinations, etc. are being appointed as well.

The Russian media have also published a version that the pilots could have lost consciousness during the flight due to the remaining nitrogen in the oxygen cylinders.

An aircraft factory is located in Irkutsk, which is part of JSC Irkut Corporation. Su-30 fighters are also assembled at this enterprise.

Su-30 is a two-seater aircraft, adapted mainly for work on ground targets.

This aircraft is designed for air superiority, long-range patrolling, escorting long-range aircraft, radar surveillance, guidance and control.

The fighter is capable of using air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.

As previously reported, on October 17, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed into a residential building in Yeysk. Both pilots had ejected.

The plane crash killed 15 and injured 26 people.