A Su-30SM fighter jet crashed during a scheduled training flight in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region on 25 February, with both pilots ejecting safely, the defence ministry said.
Authorities said in a statement, the crew “ejected promptly” and that the pilots “are alive and well, and are under medical observation.”
It reported that the crash site had been sealed off and that “there is no threat to the public or infrastructure.”
Officials said that a special commission of the Ministry of Defence has been formed to investigate the incident, headed by the chief of the Flight Safety Department, including aviation service specialists.
The jet went down about 10 kilometres from Sary-Arka Airport in the Bukhar-Zhyrau district.
According to the statement, “a legal assessment will be made and a procedural decision will be taken” once the investigation is completed.
The Su-30SM is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and manufactured in Russia.
It is an advanced variant of the Su-30 family and is used for a wide range of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack and reconnaissance, and can carry a mix of guided missiles, bombs and a 30 mm cannon.
The aircraft is highly manoeuvrable thanks to thrust-vectoring engines and modern avionics, and is operated by the air forces of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and others.
A comparable event recorded on 16 April 2021, when another Su-30SM went down during its landing approach at the Balkhash aviation centre.
The pilots survived that incident too, and investigators pointed to a probable bird strike as the cause.
Another case was recorded in 2020, when a Su-30M2 was struck by a Su-35S during air combat training, forcing its crew to eject.
Later in 2022, another Su-30SM crashed into a residential building in Irkutsk during a test flight, killing both pilots.
A further incident took place in 2023, when a Su-30 crashed during a training flight in the Kaliningrad region, Russia, killing two airmen.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footag...
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan's relative stability may not be sustainable unless the country's current authorities change policies af...
Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad arrived in Mexico wearing badges bearing the hashtag "168" in memory of victims of the deadly Minab school missile st...
Chinese President Xi Jinping is wrapping up a two-day state visit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. It was his first trip to the cou...
Kazakhstan will require major businesses to introduce five-year water-saving plans as authorities warn that worsening shortages could threaten not only the environment but also the country's economy.
For much of the post-Soviet era, Russia and Kazakhstan have maintained one of Eurasia’s most stable bilateral relationships. Deep economic ties, shared history and strategic geography continue to bind the two neighbours together, but Astana is increasingly pursuing a more independent path.
Kazakhstan has invited Cyprus to take an active role in the Trans-Caspian transport route, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev saying closer cooperation could link Kazakhstan’s land infrastructure with Cyprus’s maritime network and boost trade between Central Asia and the Mediterranean.
Kazakhstan has used a high-level visit by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to promote itself as a gateway to Central Asia, offering investors access to industrial projects worth more than $100 billion and a growing regional market.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan's relative stability may not be sustainable unless the country's current authorities change policies affecting women, the economy and regional security.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed the Istanbul Declaration on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to stronger regional cooperation, connectivity and stability across the South Caucasus.
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the U.S. would bear direct responsibility for any escalation in West Asia after Iran and Israel resumed strikes for the first time since the April ceasefire.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment