27 Jul 2014 10:33

MiG-29 crashes near Astrakhan, pilot dies - Russian Air Force commander

POGONOVO RANGE, Voronezh region. July 27. (Interfax) - A Russian Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter crashed near Astrakhan on Sunday, the pilot died, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev told the press.

"There was a catastrophe. The pilot died," he said.

"We are probing the incident. According to tentative reports, the crash was caused by the failure of aviation equipment," Gen. Bondarev added.