SEVEROMORSK, May 11 (AVN) - A SU-33 Flanker shipborne fighter crashed in northern European Russia on Thursday, a spokesman for the Northern Fleet headquarters told the Military News Agency.
The plane formed part of the Northern Fleet separate shipborne aviation regiment under command of Colonel Igor Kozhin, the spokesman said. It was piloted by Colonel Pavel Kretov.
According to preliminary data, the Flanker was making a planned inverted flight about 2,000m above the ground when its control system collapsed. The pilot managed to eject himself and landed safely some 54km from the Severomorsk-3 airfield. The plane fell on the ground in an unpeopled area, causing no victims or damages.
Colonel Kretov was evacuated from the landing site by a rescue helicopter. His condition is satisfactory.
A special commission has been set up to investigate into causes of the crash. It comprises officials of the Defence Ministry central flight security inspection.