The Russian air force's fleet of MiG-29 fighters have been grounded following a fatal crash on 12 May.
"Flights by MiG-29 fighters have been suspended by air force commander-in-chief Vladimir Mikhailov until the reasons for the crash are investigated," the service says.The MiG-29 crashed from an altitude of 2,000ft (600m) in normal weather conditions near Andreapol airfield, 350km (190nm) west of Tver.
The pilot does not appear to have attempted to eject from the aircraft. A team of local and Moscow military investigators and prosecutors have begun an investigation into the crash, with the aircraft's flight recorders having been retrieved.
Russia's air force has suffered four other MiG-29 crashes over the past six years, the most recent one occurring in November 2003. The pilots ejected and survived in all but one of the previous incidents.
Source: Flight International
