Russian Su-34 bomber crashes in Caucasus, crew killed

A Russian SU-34 bomber has crashed in the Caucasus mountains during a routine training flight likely due to a technical malfunction, killing the crew aboard

"In the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in a mountainous area, an Su-34 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed during a scheduled training flight," Russia's RIA state news agency cited the defence ministry as saying on Tuesday.

"The plane crashed in a deserted area. There is no destruction on the ground. The crew was killed."

It was not immediately known how many people were on board.

The Sukhoi Su-34 is a Soviet-origin Russian all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber aircraft.