KHABAROVSK. July 7 (Interfax) - The military investigative department of the Russian Investigative Committee in the Komsomolsk garrison has launched a criminal inquiry into the crash of a Sukhoi Su-24M bomber in the Khabarovsk territory, a source close to the inquiry has told Interfax.
"The case was opened under the article "breach of flight regulations and preparations for flight." The inquiry is in progress," the source said.
A commission of the Russian Defense Ministry has arrived in the Khabarovsk territory, he added.
The Sukhoi Su-24M bomber crashed while taking off on a training mission from the Khurba airfield in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at 2:35 p.m. Moscow time on Monday. Both pilots were killed in the crash.
According to the Defense Ministry, the plane fell on a deserted plot and there was no damage on the ground.
The Defense Ministry grounded Sukhoi Su-24 bombers until the end of the inquiry into causes of the crash.