Russian SU-33 fighter jet is seen sinking in the Med in leaked footage showing aftermath of botched landing on Putin’s crumbling aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in 2016
Russian SU-33 fighter jet sinks in the Mediterranean in leaked footage showing the aftermath of the failed landing on Putin’s crumbling aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in 2016
- The Sukhoi Su-33 sank in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016
- New images show it still attached to the Russian flagship
- Smoke can also be seen pouring from exposed areas of the aircraft
Dramatic leaked footage has emerged showing a Russian Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jet sinking in the Mediterranean after falling from Vladimir Putin’s ‘cursed’ aircraft carrier.
Video, shared this week on several military-focused Telegram channels, shows the fighter jet in the water while still attached to the ship it tried to land on with its arresting gear.
Smoke can also be seen pouring from exposed parts of the plane in the clip, which appears to have been filmed from just below the deck of the giant Admiral Kuznetsov.
A helicopter can be heard overhead, appearing to move to pluck the unfortunate pilot from the sea after he ejects.
The sinking is said to have occurred in December 2016. At the time, Russia’s Defense Ministry said a Su-33 fighter jet had crashed in the Mediterranean Sea after returning to Admiral Kuznetsov from a mission in Syria.
The ministry at the time blamed the sinking on ‘the failure of the cable of the arrester system’.
The footage shows the Su-33 fighter jet sinking into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea
A helicopter can be heard overhead, in an apparent attempt to rescue the plane’s pilot
Smoke can also be seen pouring from exposed areas of the aircraft
It added that the pilot who was in the aircraft at the time ejected successfully and was uninjured.
It was the second loss of an aircraft from Russia’s only aircraft carrier in two months. In November of that year, a MiG-29 crashed into the sea while trying to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov.
Both wrecks were reportedly rescued by Russian specialists about a year after they sank
In 2016, Admiral Kuznetsov deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean as part of Russia’s campaign in Syria, launching the first strikes against aircraft carriers in the history of the Russian Navy.
The time in Syria was short-lived and was returned to Russia in early 2017, and any sensitive information or systems on board were likely removed or destroyed.
The carrier is the flagship of the Russian Navy, but has been out of commission since 2018 and is in dry dock awaiting a refit and upgrade.
The Admiral Kuznetsov has been out of commission since 2018, after being docked for repairs and overhaul
The plane is not expected to return to international waters until 2024 at the earliest, but Russian officials have said its return could be delayed if problems arise during overhaul and testing.
The apparently cursed ship has faced a litany of problems since it was temporarily decommissioned.
The Admiral Kuznetsov has suffered a series of disasters since its launch in 1985 and is infamous for puffing black smoke.
Nevertheless, the Kremlin has used it to try to project military power far from Russia’s shores.
In December last year, the 1,000-foot ship suffered significant damage when it caught fire while moored in the port city of Murmansk, in northwestern Russia.
In 2019, the carrier suffered significant damage due to a fire, which killed at least one employee and injured ten others.
Moreover, in 2018, a giant crane collapsed on the ship, severely damaging it and resulting in the death of one worker and the injuries of four others.