A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed into the Black Sea on the night of September 10 near Sevastopol during a strike operation targeting Ukraine.
The aircraft, which took off from the Saki airbase in Novofedorivka, disappeared from radar after launching four of its six missiles at maritime targets, according to initial reports.
Sources suggest that the fighter jet may have been shot down by a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) fired from a boat in the Black Sea. Although the exact cause of the crash has not been confirmed, reports from the area point to a possible MANPADS strike. According to available information, both pilots are believed to have died in the incident.
“There has been no official confirmation regarding the fate of the two crew members, but it is highly likely that neither survived,” analysts indicated.
Ilya Tumanov, a prominent figure in the Russian military aviation community and administrator of the ‘Fighterbomber’ channel, confirmed the loss of the Su-30SM. The jet had been part of an operation firing missiles at towers in the Black Sea before it vanished from radar.
The Su-30SM is one of Russia’s more advanced multirole fighters, and its loss marks a significant setback for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.