Update (1339 EST):
A tragic loss. On August 25th, two L-39 military jets collided over the Zhytomyr region. Three pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force lost their lives. One of them was Major Andrii Pilshchykov, a 2nd Class pilot and a recipient of the Order of Courage, 3rd Class, known by the callsign… pic.twitter.com/Oa8cHUX1D8
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 26, 2023
According to the Ukrainian government, three pilots were killed in a mid-air collision between two L-39 combat training aircraft over Zhytomr Oblast on August 25th, 2023. The official announcements reads below:
”It is with sadness that we inform you that on August 25, 2023, a terrible plane crash occurred in Zhytomyr Oblast. During a combat mission, the crews of two L-39 combat training aircraft collided in the sky.
All three pilots, unfortunately, died. The investigation is ongoing.
Among the dead is a well-known pilot of the 40th tactical aviation brigade with the call sign “JUICE”.
We express our condolences to the families of the victims. This is a painful and irreparable loss for all of us.
We also ask you to be careful and understanding about the timing of the disclosure of sensitive information, in accordance with the established procedures and ethical norms.”
The death of the pilots was first reported by social media users yesterday, but official confirmation was not handed down until today.
The Reports by Ukrainian Media have since been Deleted but one of the Pilots of the MiG-29s involved was claimed to have been @_juicefighter_ who according to Family and Friends Posts on Social Media was Killed. pic.twitter.com/9fKoze3gFC
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 25, 2023
The Ukrainian Air Force has purchased nearly 50 of these aircraft. The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer designed and produced in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. It is the most widely used jet trainer in the world; in addition to performing basic and advanced pilot training, it has also flown combat missions in a light-attack role. Unusually, the aircraft never received a NATO reporting name. (Wiki)
