Russian war plane crashes off Syria's coast

Russian war plane crashes off Syria's coast
A Mig-29 - part of Russian flotilla - has crashed before it could reach the country's sole aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov following a mission over Syria.
2 min read
14 November, 2016
The Mig (illustrative purposes) is a key part of the Russian air force [Getty]
One of four Russian Mig-29 Fulcrum war planes on-board a Russian armada recently arrived to the eastern Mediterranean has crashed off Syria's coast.

The plane was returning from its first mission over Syria when it went missing over down close to the carrier.

A video reportedly showing the plane over the skies of Aleppo was shared on social media earlier in the day.

It was based on-board the Admiral Kuznetsov Russia aircraft carrier, which has only just arrived to the eastern Mediterranean to take part in missions against rebels in Syria.

Early reports suggest that the war plane was part of a three plane formation when it suffered a mechanical failure, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

The Russian war plane did not quite make the deck of the carrier, and landed in the water. The pilot ejected and was picked up by a helicopter.

Another Mig reportedly made it back to the aircraft carrier while the remaining war plane in the formation was diverted to Syria, according to The Aviationist.

Russian attacks on Aleppo and other parts of Syria have intensified in recent days, following Moscow's announcement that its plane were reengaging in Syrian.

War planes have also been reportedly marking potential targets for an upcoming regime offensive in Aleppo.

The Russian flotilla now docked off Syria's coast is expected to be the focus of a new aerial offensive with missile strikes and air raids on besieged Aleppo launched from the vessels.