Su-34 fighter-bomber crashes in Russia

11 June, 2024 Su-34 fighter-bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Photo from open sources A Su-34 fighter-bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed in the mountains of North Ossetia, killing the crew.

Russian propaganda media reported this on the morning of Tuesday, June 11. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation confirmed the fact that a fighter-bomber had crashed in a mountainous area. The Su-34 reportedly crashed during a routine training flight.

However, a Russian aviation propagandist said it happened when the plane was flying to another airfield. Russian media reports that the plane crash occurred near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau, where locals heard an explosion at night.

Russian Su-34M bomber, November 2023. Photo credits: UAC

According to eyewitnesses, the fighter-bomber crashed into a rock around midnight.

According to preliminary data, a technical malfunction caused the crash of the Russian Su-34. The plane had a crew of two pilots on board, and they are reported to have died. According to the Russian media, the fighter-bomber crashed in a deserted area, with no damage on the ground.

Representatives of the Russian Aerospace Forces flew to the crash site.

A Russian bomb with a UMPK kit under the wing of a Su-34 front-line bomber

It is worth noting that since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russians have been actively using Su-34s to strike at the territory of Ukraine, including with bombs equipped with UMPK kits and launching cruise missiles at civilian targets.

New Su-34

In April, the Russian Aerospace Forces received the first batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers in 2024.

Prior to delivery, the fighter-bombers underwent a full cycle of factory tests to confirm flight performance and system reliability.

Su-34 bomber from the first delivered batch of 2024.

Photo credits: Rostec

The new planes were delivered within the state defense order, which has been fulfilled by the United Aircraft Corporation since 2019.