Pilot died in Su-27 collision because chute caught fire in air

© RIA Novosti . Grigoriy Sisoev / Go to the mediabankTwo fighters collide during preparations for MAKS-2009
Two fighters collide during preparations for MAKS-2009 - Sputnik International
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A Russian military pilot killed in a two-plane collision during a rehearsal for the MAKS-2009 air show near Moscow died because his parachute caught fire during the fall, an investigator said on Monday.

MOSCOW, August 17 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian military pilot killed in a two-plane collision during a rehearsal for the MAKS-2009 air show near Moscow died because his parachute caught fire during the fall, an investigator said on Monday.

The Sunday collision near Zhukovsky airfield, east of Moscow, involved two Su-27 Flanker jet fighters from Russia's elite aerobatics group Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights).

All three pilots ejected, and two of them were later found on the ground in serious but satisfactory condition. The dead pilot was identified as Col. Igor Tkachenko, 45, commander of the Russian Knights.

"We have questioned the witnesses. One of them...saw the parachute of one of the pilots catching fire in the air from the burning debris of the plane. The dead pilot was later identified as Igor Tkachenko," the source said.

According to preliminary investigations, the accident was most likely caused by pilot error during an aerobatics maneuver, although the possibility of a technical failure has not been ruled out.

On-board recording devices have been found at the scene of the accident, and the investigators continue to recover the main parts of the aircraft for further analysis.

One of the two surviving pilots has been hospitalized with a spinal fracture, police said. No information is so far available on the condition of the third pilot.

The organizer of the MAKS-2009 air show said on Sunday the tragedy would not delay the show, scheduled to start on Tuesday.

"MAKS will not be postponed. Although there may be changes to the program of flights, all aerobatic teams - three Russian and two foreign ones - will perform," said Vladimir Borisov, general director of the Aviasalon firm.

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