| 2022 Irkutsk military aircraft crash | |
| Image Upright: | 1.15 |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Crashed into a residential building; Under investigation |
| Site: | 2nd Sovietsky Lane, building 4, Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia[1] |
| Aircraft Type: | Sukhoi Su-30SM |
| Origin: | Irkutsk Northwest Airport |
| Occupants: | 2 |
| Crew: | 2 |
| Fatalities: | 2 |
| Ground Fatalities: | 0 |
| Ground Injuries: | 1 |
| Total Fatalities: | 2 |
| Total Injuries: | 1 |
| Survivors: | 0 |
The crash of the Su-30 occurred at about 17:30 local time on 23 October 2022 in the city of Irkutsk in eastern Russia.[2] The Su-30SM aircraft was performing a test flight when it fell on a wooden two-story residential building in 2nd Sovetsky Lane.[3] Both the pilots were killed. The residents of the house were not hurt as they were not home.[4] [5]
The accident occurred six days after another plane crash into a residential building in Yeysk. BBC correspondents noted that both planes belong in general to the same family - they were created by deep modernization of the Soviet Sukhoi Su-27 fighter.[6]
Maxim Vyacheslavovich Konyushin — a professional test pilot. He participated in the testing of more than 30 aircraft models. Born in Primorye. He graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy with a degree in aircraft testing. He was awarded medals of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation "For Distinction in Military Service" III, II and I degree. He bore the title of "Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation".[7] [8]
Viktor Viktorovich Kryukov — test pilot of the third class, military pilot of the second class. A native of Ukraine. Graduated from the Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute.
On the evening of 23 October 2022, test flights of two Su-30SMs took place over the Irkutsk-2 airfield. One plane landed safely at the airport, while contact with the other plane was lost.[9] The plane crashed on a residential building in 2nd Sovietsky Lane. The five people (two families) who lived in the house weren't home at the time of the crash.[10] Two pilots of the plane were killed.[11] A fire later broke out, injuring a firefighter. According to local authorities, 150 houses were left without electricity after the plane crash.
The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case under article 263 of the Criminal Code (“Violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of air transport”). A commission has been set up to investigate the crash.[12] [13] In the Leninsky district of Irkutsk, a municipal emergency regime was introduced.[14]
The investigation considers two versions of the causes of the disaster - crew errors and equipment failure.[15] It is reported that the crew could have lost consciousness during the flight due to a malfunction of the oxygen equipment or depressurization.[16]