At least 15 dead as Russian fighter jet crashes into apartment building

Europe, News October 19, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

At least 15 people have died after a Russian air force fighter jet crashed into an apartment building in the southern city of Yeysk, according to Russian officials and media.

The plane crashed into the building shortly after taking off on October 17, 2022, engulfing the building into a huge fireball and resulting in the death of at least 15 people, including three children.

The building was hit by a Sukhoi Su-34 Supersonic medium-range fighter jet. So far, 19 people have been reported to sustain severe injuries as a result of the crash.

After hours of search operation through the debris, authorities said 15 residents were found dead. Russia’s Emergency Ministry’s Spokesperson said that at least 19 people were injured in the incident. The statement further added that 68 people were rescued from the building unharmed and about 360 people were evacuated from the nearby buildings.

A Russian fighter jet crashes into a residential building in the southern city of Yeysk, Russia pic.twitter.com/qoVeJzKJK2
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The two-seater Su-34 fighter jet flew from a military airbase in Yeysk for a training flight. Shortly after attaining some height, one of its engines burst into flames. The pilots ejected from the plane in time, however, the plane crashed into an apartment building. The spilled fuel from the engine caused a huge fire resulting in the death and injuries of residents.

At least 17 apartments were directly affected by the crash and subsequent fire, while more than 100 apartments were evacuated in the vicinity. Authorities say that emergency rooms and operating halls have been reserved at the local hospitals and medical staff has been put on high alert.

Russia jet crash — *^{The site of the Russian plane crash at a residential building in the southern city of Yeysk, Russia, on Monday. (Image Credit: Reuters)}*

Russian President Vladimir Putin also took notice of the incident and ordered the provision of necessary aid to the victims and their families. According to the Kremlin, President Putin was informed about the crash and he ordered the ministers of health and emergencies, along with the local governor, to head to the site. Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said emergency services were working to put out the fire.

Yeysk is a city of more than 90,000 inhabitants. It is home to one of Russia’s prominent airbases and training centers. The city is separated from Ukraine by a narrow stretch of the Sea of Azov. The Russian air force is conducting many of its operations in Ukraine from Yeysk airbase.

*^{Russia’s Defense Ministry said the jet had been on a training flight when one of its engines caught fire and it crashed into a residential area. (Image Credit: TASS/Erik Romanenko)}*

The Sukhoi Su-34 is a supersonic twin-engine strike jet equipped with sophisticated sensors and weapons that have been a key strike component of the Russian air force.

First launched in 1990, the Su-34 entered into service in 2014. it was extensively used in Syria. It is estimated that the Russian air force has some 140 Su-34 fighter jets. The current accident is the 10th reported non-combatant crash for a Russian warplane since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started.