A Russian MiG-29 jet has crashed into the sea after taking off from the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov off the coast of Syria, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Russians blamed technical faults for the crash, the state-run Sputnik News reported. The pilot ejected and is not in danger.
The carrier headed to the Mediterranean Sea last month to begin launching airstrikes in Syria. The ship is prone to frequent breakdowns and analysts say it often deploys with a tugboat in case it needs to be brought to shore for maintenance.
Among the numerous previous incidents reported on the ship, an Su-33 fell into the water upon landing in 2005.
