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Russian warplane crashes into Mediterranean off Syria coast, pilot safe

Monday, 05 December 2016 3:08 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 05 December 2016 4:01 PM ]

In this file photo, a Russian Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets tries to land at the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria. (Photo by TASS news agency)

Russia says one of its twin-engine air superiority Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria, after it rolled off the deck while landing on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced in a statement on Monday that the warplane had carried out a number of airstrikes in Syria, before attempting to land on the military vessel. The arresting cable, however, snapped and the aircraft skidded beyond the deck.

The statement added that the pilot of the jet successfully ejected and was unharmed in the incident.

The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that its military operations over Syria would not be affected by the incident.

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov (Photo by Reuters)

Last month, a MiG-29 warplane crashed into the water while preparing to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier. The pilot of the plane was safely catapulted.

The Russian Defense Ministry later stated that technical fault was to blame for the incident during a training mission.

The development came only two days after the commander of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Captain 1st rank Sergei Artamonov, said Russian warships were positioned in the “designated zone... in the eastern Mediterranean and jointly carrying out tasks, maneuvering to the west of the Syrian coast.”

He added that fighter jets had already started taking off from the carrier’s deck to survey the conflict zone.

Militants in eastern Aleppo negotiating terms of surrender: Report

Separately, foreign-backed militants in the eastern quarter of Aleppo are reportedly conducting secret talks with senior Syrian military officials on the terms of surrender.

Syrian pro-government troops hold a position in Aleppo's eastern Karm al-Jabal neighborhood as they advance towards al-Shaar neighborhood on December 5, 2016 during their offensive to retake Syria's second city. (Photo by AFP)

The pro-government and Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday that the Takfiris are demanding that authorities legalize their status, let them leave eastern Aleppo and head to the city’s government-controlled western part.

Syrian government forces, who are in full control of western Aleppo, have been conducting operations to purge militants from the city’s east.

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