KHANKALA, May 10 (AVN) - Air Force research and rescue services and land troops continue search for the SU-24MR Fencer reconnaissance plane that disappeared in Chechnya on May 7, a source in the unified federal headquarters told the Military News Agency.
The crash site as well as the names of the pilot and the navigator have not been disclosed to protect the crew from the possible guerrilla attacks. The source did not exclude that the plane could have been downed by the militants.
Over the past 24 hours SU-25 Frogfoot planes have flown two sorties, AN-30 Clank reconnaissance planes - two and MI-24 Hind fire support helicopters - 20. According to preliminary data four rebel fortified areas and two long-term firing points were eliminated, two roadblocks were set up in the mountain passes. An IL-76 Candid military transport evacuated 144 servicemen from the combat area to Central Russia.