Fighter jet crashes in south Russia

A MiG-29 fighter jet crashed near the Ashuluk range in south Russia’s Astrakhan region, and both pilots have ejected, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"The MiG-29 aircraft crashed at around 2 p.m. (1100GMT) while on a regular training flight near the Ashuluk range. Both pilots have ejected. There is no threat to their life and health," the ministry said.

A source in the region’s emergencies services told TASS that the pilots have been found and are being transported to hospital.

"They are being evacuated by helicopter," the source said.

"A rescue service team was dispatched to the crash area for prompt evacuation of the ejected pilots and provision of medical aid to them, if need be," Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, "both pilots made radio contact with the flight operations director and reported that they safely landed after ejection."

The ministry also said the crashed jet was flying without ammunition load and caused no destruction on the ground.