Two Ukrainian fighter jets collide during a training exercise

2023-08-26 18:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Two Ukrainian fighter jets collided while participating in a training mission over the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation reported on August 26.

The three pilots aboard the L-39 aircraft died during the August 25 incident in the skies over Zhitomir, a city about 140 kilometers west of Kiev, the bureau said.

The wreckage fell in the yard of a private house and spread about 300 meters, according to Radio Free Europe's Ukrainian Service. No one on the ground was injured and no damage to private homes was reported. The army has removed all the pieces of aircraft that were involved in the incident.

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation to determine if the planes were in good condition and if all regulations were followed before they took off.

Specialists will also investigate the so-called black boxes of the aircraft, which contain data on the movements of the aircraft and the reactions of the pilots.

One of the pilots who lost his life during this accident was Andriy Pilshchikov from the 40th tactical air brigade. He was known by the nickname "Jus". This pilot was part of the air defense in Kiev, since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

"Jus" had repeatedly given interviews to Ukrainian and Western media, calling for modern fighter jets to be given to his country.

"We express our condolences to the families of the victims. This is a great loss for all of us," the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement./REL