Russia suspends Su-24 flights after crash in Far East

Moscow, Aug 23 (UNI) Russian Air Force has suspended all Su-24 strike aircraft flights after a crash in the Far East early today.

An Su-24 Fencer tactical bomber crashed about 115 km southeast of the Khurba airfield in the Khabarovsk Territory. Both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft.

''The commander of the Russian Air Force has ordered the suspension of Su-24 flights until the causes of the August 23 crash are established,'' the spokesman for the Russian Air Force Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told RIA Novosti news agency.

''No damage to ground infrastructure or casualties have been reported,'' Drobyshevsky said, adding both pilots were in a satisfactory condition at a local military hospital.

He said a special investigation commission, which arrived at the site of crash, was considering technical failure as a probable cause of the incident.

The Su-24 is a two-seater, twin-engined strike aircraft similar to NATO's Tornado and Mirage 2000 planes.

The plane has been in service with the Russian Air Force since the mid-1970s and is currently being replaced with advanced Su-34 Fullback tactical bombers.

Last year, flights of Su-24 were suspended twice following three crashes in various regions of Russia. Two pilots were killed in the latest crash in western Russia, in July 2006.

UNI