THREE RUSSIAN Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers of the Russian Knights aerobatic team crashed near Kamran air base, Vietnam, on 12 December, after apparently hitting high ground. The four pilots - one of the aircraft was a two-seat Su-27B - are missing, presumed dead.
The accident happened as five Su-27s were flying in close formation with an Ilyushin Il-76 transport. During the descent into Kamran, the formation reportedly emerged from the cloud-base to find that they were in imminent danger of colliding with a mountain.
The Il-76 ordered the formation to break, and two Su-27s turned right. The three missing aircraft went left, and radio contact was lost. Examination of the Il-76's voice recorder reveals that a command to eject had been given by one of the three missing aircraft.
The display team was returning to Russia, via China and Vietnam, from the LIMA '95 air show in Malaysia earlier this month.
Source: Flight International
