Russian Su-30 Fighter Jet Crashes During Training Flight in Kaliningrad, Crew Eject Safely

A Russian Su-30 fighter jet, reportedly an Su-30SM, crashed in Russia’s Kaliningrad region on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during a planned training flight, according to reports citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

Both crew members ejected safely before the aircraft crashed, and the ministry said there were no casualties. However, some Russian and Ukrainian media reports indicated that the pilots sustained injuries and were taken to a military hospital. The extent of their injuries has not been independently confirmed.

The aircraft reportedly went down in an unpopulated field between the villages of Timofeevka and Zelyony Bor, near the town of Chernyakhovsk and close to a cemetery. Videos circulating on Telegram channels appeared to show the aircraft crashing, followed by fire and smoke at the site.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the aircraft was conducting a routine training sortie without ammunition on board. The cause of the crash has not yet been officially disclosed, and an investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.