The plane suspected to be a Russian Su-57 fighter crashed in Moscow province

“A combat training plane crashed during takeoff in Moscow province on the morning of July 23. The pilot ejected safely, the plane fell into an open and uninhabited area, causing no damage on the ground,” the Russian Ministry of Defense announced.

The agency did not specify the type of plane that crashed, adding that the plane did not carry weapons and the preliminary cause was determined to be a technical problem.

Sheet Kommersant of Russia, citing previously anonymous sources, said the Su-57 stealth fighter crashed in Odintsovo district of Moscow province. “The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case to consider possible violations of regulations,” the source said.

Fighter Bomber, the account of a Russian fighter pilot, confirmed that a Su-57 had crashed. “The State Committee has sent forces to the scene and will determine the cause of the incident,” this account wrote.

Images published by Russian media show fire and smoke rising from a field, believed to be the scene of a Su-57 fighter crash. Electronic newspaper Mash said that the Su-57 had problems during training and the pilot tried to steer the plane away from residential areas before ejecting the escape pod.

The Su-57 is Russia’s 5th generation multi-role fighter, built to destroy all types of targets in the air, on land and at sea. The Su-57 is covered with radar absorbing material and has an optimal design for stealth against electronic reconnaissance equipment. Each aircraft can carry a total of 6 weapons in its body, including 4 in two abdominal compartments and two missiles in two side compartments.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has ordered a total of 76 Su-57 fighters, expected to receive all before 2028. As of early 2026, the Russian Air Force owns about 44 Su-57s, including 10 test aircraft and 34 aircraft assigned to combat units.

Su-57 fighters began fighting in Ukraine 2-3 weeks after the conflict broke out. The Russian Air Force also tested many ground-to-ground weapons developed specifically for this stealth fighter, including the Kh-69 tactical cruise missile, described by Ukrainian media as “more terrifying than the Kinzhal hypersonic missile”.

In May, the two-seat version of the Su-57D flew for the first time and completed the proposed tasks. This is the second 5th generation fighter in the world to have a two-seat variant, after China’s J-20S fighter.