Article Posted on : - Aug 17, 2009

The wreckage of the fighter jets after collision. -- Image credit: RIA Novosti

MOSCOW (PTI): Two heavy Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jets collided mid-air during an aerobatics drill over the Russian town of Zhukovsky, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another one, ahead of an international air show to be inaugurated there on Tuesday.

The Su 27 Flanker jets belonging to Russian Knights aerobatic group of the Russian Air Force were part of a joint drill with another aerobatic group of MiG-29 fighters, when they collided on Sunday.

There were three pilots in the ill-fated jets, who ejected out. However, parachute of the commander of the legendary 'Russian Knights' aerobatics team failed to open, Air Force spokesman Lt Col Vladimir Dirk said.

One of the planes rehearsing for MAKS-2009 international aerospace salon was a two-seater fighter trainer.

“All the three ejected after the collision, however, the parachute of the 'Russkiye Vityazi' commander Colonel Igor Tkachenko did not open resulting in his death,” he said.

Another pilot with backbone injuries has been hospitalised in serious condition.

Even as the Defence Ministry ordered a high-level probe, the organisers of the airshow, ruled out any change in plans.

However, the aerobatics programme of the 'Russian Knights' is likely to be cancelled, although extra crews and planes were available.

Unlike other air forces of the world, including Indian Air Force, which use trainer jets for aerobatics, Russia is the only country which has regular combat jets in its globally acclaimed aerobatics teams.

According to state-run Vesti 7X24 news channel, 'human error' and a bird-hit are said to be the cause of collision.

“Probably a bird sucked into the engine of the leading jet, resulted in the drastic drop in its thrust causing the trailing aircraft to touch its wing,” Former Soviet space shuttle Buran's test-pilot Hero of Russia, Mogamed Talboyev told the channel.