A Russian Su-33 in the assembly phase crashed into the sea after breaking the stop cable on the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the Mediterranean. This is what the Russian Ministry of Defense announces.
"The Su-33 fighter, after completing a combat operation in the Syrian sky, has slipped off the flight deck due to the breaking of the stop device cable. The pilot managed to launch himself, he did not report any injuries. The flight group continues its operations on a regular basis".
Moscow has lost two aircraft on board Admiral Kuznetsov in one month of activity in Syria due to technical failures. Last November fifteen, a MIG-29K of the Russian Navy crashed in the Mediterranean, while it was approaching for the landing on the bridge of the Kuznetsov. The pilot who managed to eject himself is unharmed.
The incident occurred several kilometers away from the heavy missile carrier cruiser, during the descent phase of the MiG-29K. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was immediately rescued from the search and rescue service taken off the carrier. The Mig-29K precipitated would have been part of a formation of three aircraft taken off from the Kuznetsov for a training flight on Syria. Having encountered technical problems, one of the fighters would have tried to return to the aircraft carrier, crashing a few kilometers during the descent phase. Both the carrier and the staff are at the first long-term operation away from their bases.
La Kuznetsov will return to Russia for modernization work within the second decade of January. The work will begin within the first quarter of the 2018, a year later than previously stated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The ship will remain in the yard for three years: only in the 2021 will return to the sea. Scheduled reconstruction of the entire flight deck, with replacement of the lining and the take-off and landing system.
Since last November, the air base of Hmeimim, in the province of Latakia, has hosted several Russian Navy Su-33 / MiG29KR platforms Kuznetsov. For the Russian Ministry of Defense, the carrier is fully operational.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
