On September 6, 2019, Two Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers collided mid-air over the Russian city of Lipetsk during a training flight.
Fortunately, the pilots managed to land both planes, the Russian news media outlet REN-TV reported.
According to reports, the warplanes made contact with one another in the air due to a loss of visual contact.
“The leader hit the wingman with the end of the wing by the cockpit; while trying to turn their jets away, they collided again. At the same time, debris got into the engine of one of the planes,” an unnamed source told REN-TV media outlet.
Both aircraft managed to land successfully and no-one was injured. However, both aircraft sustained serious damage. The cabin, engine, and fuselage of one of the planes were damaged. The wingtip was ripped off the other, which contained equipment that was part of its electronic countermeasures system.
According to TopWar.ru, the photo in this post allegedly shows the damaged right wing of one of the two Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF) Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers involved in a mid-air collision on Sep. 6, 2019.
The source also added that “the pilots are likely to pay for the damages inflicted.”
The collision appears to have been caused by a pilots’ mistake, who lost visual contact, according to a source quoted by TASS.
“The pilots’ error resulted in the collision over the Lipetsk Region, a special commission is now studying the details of the accident, which will particularly determine the extent of responsibility of each of the crews,” the source said.
