Russia Grounds Su-27 Jets After Crash

Russia has grounded all Sukhoi Su-27 jets until the investigation related to the crash of a plane of this type is completed.

"According to preliminary findings, technical problems were to blame," the defense ministry’s statement said Friday.

A source in the panel of inquiry told TASS that the black box of the crashed warplane is in good condition.

"The ‘box’ has been found, it is one, it is in a good condition," the source said.

The Su-27 warplane of the Russian Knights aerobatic team crashed in the Pushkinsky district in the Moscow Region earlier on Thursday after the aerobatic team took part in a ceremony of opening a monument to aviators in Ashukino. 

Earlier, the Defense Ministry said the Sukhoi-27 may have crashed due to technical problems. The pilot was killed in the crash. According to the ministry, the pilot did all he could to steer the plane away from a nearby community and had no time to eject himself.