Two Ukrainian Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft collided in mid-air during a mission in Zhytomyr Oblast killing three pilots onboard.
The aircraft reportedly collided while in formation, causing the loss of both aircraft.
The deaths of the pilots of both aircraft were reported by Ukrainian media but were later redacted.
Among the dead is a well-known pilot of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade with the call sign “JUICE”.
Juice was well known for conducting interviews with the Western press, lamenting the lack of modern fighter jets in the Ukrainian Air Force, in addition to campaigning for Ukraine to acquire F-16 fighter jets.
The identity of the pilot of the other aircraft is unknown.
It is noteworthy that Ukrainian air defense systems and aircraft were alerted at the time due to the flight of the Russian Mikoyan MiG-31, capable of launching Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles.
