A Russian fighter jet based on an aircraft carrier currently near Syria’s shores has crashed on a training mission - but the pilot bailed out safely, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said the crash into the Mediterranean of the MiG-29K fighter would not affect the operations of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier.

“The Russian aircraft carrier group is continuing its operations in the Mediterranean in accordance with plan,” it said in a statement.

The jet’s pilot was quickly rescued and suffered no injuries, the ministry added.

It said the jet crashed a few kilometres away from the carrier due to a technical problem while on its way to land, but did not elaborate.

The carrier and escorting ships arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea last week. Pilots of the carrier-borne fighters have been conducting flights over Syria to survey the area.

Nato has expressed concern about the Russian carrier group’s deployment, saying the move could presage an increase in the number of Russian air raids in Syria - particularly around the besieged city of Aleppo. </s> A Russian fighter jet has crashed off the coast of Syria killing both pilots 'after a bird strike'.

The Kremlin says the SU-30SM war plane came down in the Mediterranean off the coastal city of Latakia this morning.

Pilots 'fought to take the aircraft under control till the last minute', according to Moscow defence officials.

Pictures have emerged on social media claiming to show the scene of the crash and smoke rising over the sea.

The plane had earlier taken off from the Khmeimim Airbase and was not shot down, they said.

'As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene,' a statement said.

The ministry said the multi-role fighter jet had not come under fire, adding that 'according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine'.

The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86.

The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties. </s> In this 2004 file photo the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier seen in the Barents Sea, Russia. The Russian military says one of its the MiG-29 fighter jets based at a Russian aircraft carrier currently near Syria's shores has crashed on a training mission, but its pilot has survived.

MOSCOW — The Russian military says one of its fighter jets based on an aircraft carrier currently near Syria's shores has crashed on a training mission, but its pilot survived.

The Defense Ministry said Monday that the crash of the MiG-29 fighter will not affect the operations of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier.

It said the jet's pilot bailed out safely and was picked up by a rescue team.

The ministry said the jet crashed due to a technical problem while on its way to land on the carrier, but didn't elaborate on what went wrong.

The carrier and escorting ships arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea last week. Pilots of the carrier-borne fighters have been conducting flights over Syria to survey the area. </s> Just in: 2 killed as Russian Su-30 jet crashes off Syrian coast (PHOTOS)

A Russian military jet has crashed off the coast of Syria’s Latakia, killing two pilot on board, Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed.

The pilots tried to save it.

The information so far indicate that a bird was sucked into one of the engines. </s> A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed off the Syria coast, killing two pilots on board, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed.

The plane crashed over the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday morning, shortly after it took off from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, the ministry added. Pilots "fought to take the aircraft under control till the last minute," the Russian Defense ministry said. Both pilots died as the result of the incident.

"A Russian Su-30SM fighter plane crashed over the Mediterranean Sea at around 9:45 a.m. Moscow time [06:45 GMT] when gaining height after taking off from the Hmeymim airfield. Both pilots, which were fighting to save the plane until the last moment, died," the statement read.

The crash may have been caused by a bird hitting the engine, the ministry said, citing preliminary data. The aircraft was not shot down.

The last similar incident occurred in March, when a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed during landing at Hmeymim airfield, killing the 33 passengers and six crew members on board.

As a reminder, Russian military aircraft have been stationed in Syria as part of a deal between Moscow and Damascus. In 2017, Russian and Syrian authorities agreed to prolong their presence in the country after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of a significant number of troops from Syria. Khmeimim Airbase near Latakia and the naval site in the port city of Tartus have been handed over to Russia for 49 years with an option of automatic extension. </s> MOSCOW:- A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria on Thursday, killing both pilots, Moscow's defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies. "As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene," the statement said. The ministry said the plane had not come under fire, adding that "according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine".–AFP

The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86. </s> A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria on Thursday, killing both pilots, Moscow’s defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies.

 “As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.

 Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene,” the statement said.

 The ministry said the plane had not come under fire, adding that “according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine”.

 The accident brings Russia’s official military losses in Syria to 86. The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board.

 But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties.—AFP </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Russian flotilla earlier passed through the English Channel

A Russian MiG-29 fighter jet has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea as it tried to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the country's defence ministry has said.

The pilot ejected safely from the plane, the ministry said.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is part of a group of Russian warships recently deployed near the Syrian coast.

Nato had expressed concern planes from the carrier would be used to attack civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Refuelling controversy

The defence ministry said the crash was as a result of "technical malfunction" during a training flight.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Mig 29s have been used by Russia for several decades

The jet came down a few kilometres from the carrier and the pilot was picked up by a rescue team.

"The pilot's health is not in danger," the ministry said, adding that he was ready to fly again.

It said that flight operations had not been suspended.

US officials quoted by Fox News said that the aircraft which crashed was a MiG-29K.

The aircraft appeared to have mechanical difficulties shortly after take-off, the Washington Post reported, pointing out that MiG-29Ks were added to the Kuznetsov's carrier wing during the summer.

The aircraft are specifically designed to handle the difficulties of operating from an aircraft carrier at sea, the paper reported, and are believed to be updated versions of MiG-29s, which have been in service since the 1980s.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Plans for the carrier to refuel in the Spanish port of Ceuta (pictured) were cancelled

The Admiral Kuznetsov - Russia's sole aircraft carrier - can carry dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters.

Its flotilla sailed from Russia to the Mediterranean via the English Channel last month.

The ships refuelled at sea off North Africa after plans to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta were cancelled amid Nato concerns over their mission.

The naval group also includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines.

The group joined about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast.

Russia has been supporting Syrian government forces in the country's civil conflict, most recently targeting rebels in eastern Aleppo.

Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.

The air strikes have been suspended recently but there are fears that, with the naval flotilla now in place, they will be stepped up again. </s> A Russian military jet carrying 14 servicemen vanished from radar over the Mediterranean Sea late Monday as Syria came under attack by Israeli missiles, the defence ministry said.

“Connection has been lost with the crew of a Russian Il-20 plane over the Mediterranean Sea 35 kilometres from the Syrian coast as it was returning to the Hmeimim airbase,” the Russian defence ministry said early Tuesday.

The fate of the military personnel is “unknown,” the ministry said in a statement which was carried by Russian news agencies. A search for the plane was underway.

A search-and-rescue source told the Interfax news agency that the Russian warplane could have sunk in the Mediterranean Sea as a result of an “unforeseen critical incident” in the air.

The ministry said that the jet had gone off the radar around 11pm Monday (local time) during an attack by four Israeli F-16 jets over Syrian infrastructure in the province of Latakia, a stronghold of president Bashar al-Assad.

RIA Novosti news agency, citing a security source, said that Syrian anti-defence systems had countered a rocket attack.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government.

An Israeli military spokeswoman when asked about both the reported Israeli strike and the Russian plane said: “We don’t comment on foreign reports.”

A Pentagon spokesman said the United States was not involved and declined to provide further details.

“The missiles were not fired by the US military and we have nothing further at this time,” he said.

The Russian defence ministry also said that rockets had been launched from the French Navy’s frigate, The Auvergne, which was in the area at the time.

“The French army denies any involvement in this attack,” a French army spokesman said.

The jet vanished from radar just hours after Russia said there would be no assault against Syria’s Idlib as the presidents of Russia and Turkey agreed to create a “demilitarised zone” in the rebel-held province.

After more than four hours of talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin at his residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said their two countries would “prevent a humanitarian tragedy.”

Putin said the two leaders agreed to create a 15-20 kilometre-wide demilitarised zone along the line of contact between rebels and regime troops by October 15.

This would entail a “withdrawal of all radical fighters” from Idlib including the Al-Nusra Front and also the withdrawal of heavy weaponry including tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, Putin said.

Russia-backed forces of the Syrian regime have massed around Idlib province in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion.

Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict to buttress the Assad regime in 2015.

Russia has previously lost aircraft during its Syria campaign.

In November 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border, triggering a severe crisis in ties with Moscow.
A Russian MiG-29 crashes in the Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coast. The pilot ejected safely from the plane and is unhurt.