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Another Russian Military Plane Crashes Into Residential Building, Killing Both Pilots

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Residents of Irkutsk watch a blaze that erupted after a Russian military plane crashed into a residential building on October 23.
Residents of Irkutsk watch a blaze that erupted after a Russian military plane crashed into a residential building on October 23.

A Russian military plane crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on October 23, killing both of its pilots, Russian authorities said.

Russia's Emergency Ministry said there were no casualties among the population.

The Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a test flight and was not carrying weapons, limiting the damage done to the surrounding area, officials said. The plane is produced at the nearby Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

The incident comes just days after a Su-34, a supersonic fighter-bomber, crashed near an apartment building in the Sea of Azov port of Yeysk, killing 15 people and injuring 19 others. That plane was loaded with weapons, creating a large fireball upon impact.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said the SU-30 on a two-story house in the city, causing a fire.

Video of the aftermath showed smoke billowing against a dark sky and firefighters working at the scene.

Kobzev said that 150 homes were left without electricity.

Local media said the Su-30 lost contact with ground command shortly after takeoff.

Russia's state Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case.

Based on reporting by Interfax, AP, Reuters, and AFP

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