Investigation Begins Into Fatal Su-24M Crash in Western Ukraine

Ukrainian investigators have begun decoding the flight recorder of a Su-24M bomber that crashed in Western Ukraine this week and killed both pilots on board.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said on Wednesday that authorities are investigating the circumstances of Tuesday’s crash in Shepetivka district, Khmelnytskyi region.

According to preliminary information, the aircraft went down at about 7:05 p.m. during a training flight.

The two crew members, aged 55 and 23, were killed in the crash.

Prosecutors said specialists are working to decode the aircraft’s flight recorder to determine what caused the accident.

Investigators are examining the aircraft’s technical condition, compliance with flight preparation and operational procedures, and other factors that may have contributed to the crash.

The case has been opened under Article 416 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers violations of flight regulations or flight preparation procedures resulting in serious consequences.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said a service investigation has been ordered within the military unit involved and within the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The Ministry of Defense has also established a separate commission to investigate the crash.

Meanwhile, investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) continue to examine the crash site and collect evidence.

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The Su-24M that crashed on Tuesday is a variant of the Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-24 “Fencer” – an all-weather, twin-engine supersonic bomber developed in the 1960s, recognizable by its variable-sweep wing design.

Ukraine inherited between 100 and 200 Su-24 airframes from the Soviet Union, though the number of operational aircraft has steadily declined over the years due to combat losses and parts shortages.

Since the beginning of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine has deployed its Su-24 in a number of significant strikes, including attacks on Russian Black Sea Fleet assets in Sevastopol.

Ukraine has also used the Su-24s to launch Storm Shadow cruise missiles donated by the UK, equipped on the Soviet-era bombers using decommissioned pylons from NATO aircraft.