Russian military plane crashes into apartment building in Russia, killing 13
The wreckage of a Sukhoi Su-34 military jet at the crash site in the courtyard of a residential area in the town of Yeysk in southwestern Russia on Monday. Photo: StringerT/AFP via Getty Images
A Russian military plane on Monday crashed into an apartment building in the southwestern port city of Yeysk, on the Sea of Azov, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
The latest: After spending hours combing through wreckage at the crash site, officials said three children and 10 adult residents were confirmed dead and 19 others were being treated for injuries in local hospitals, per AP.
- "Thanks to the professional, competent and prompt actions of fire and rescue units, 68 people were rescued during the search and rescue operation in Yeysk," Emergency Minister Alexander Kurenkov said in a statement, Reuters reported.
Driving the news: The Russian Defense Ministry said the crash had occurred due to engine failure upon takeoff.
- Both crew members ejected themselves from the aircraft before it crashed into the apartment building, igniting a huge fire that was further stoked by the jet fuel.
- Several floors of the nine-story building were engulfed by the fire and the precise numbers of dead and injured were still being clarified, regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote in a Telegram post.
- All regional fire and rescue units are working on extinguishing the fire, Kondratyev added in another post.
The big picture: The Sukhoi Su-34 aircraft had been performing a training flight, the ministry said in the statement.
- Russia's Investigative Committee announced in a Telegram post that it was opening a criminal investigation into the crash.
- Yeysk is located directly across the Sea of Azov's Taganrog Gulf from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, per Al Jazeera.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.