Russian fighter jet crashes off Syrian coast, 2 pilots killed: Moscow

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter has crashed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria, killing both pilots, Russia's defense ministry has confirmed according to TASS news agency.

“At 09:45 on May 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter crashed in the Mediterranean during the climb shortly after taking off from the Khmeimim airdrome. As follows from an onsite report, both pilots tried to keep the plane under control till the last moment. Both died,” the ministry said in a statement.

The defense ministry denied the jet had been fired on, saying a bird may have hit the engine.

Russia is the Syrian government's main military backer, supplying air support for the regime's operations against ISIS and opposition groups.

A Russian plane was shot down over Idlib in February by al-Qaeda-linked Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra. 

The pilot Maj. Roman Filipov ejected, but blew himself up with a hand grenade rather than be taken captive.

Thursday's accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86. The number of Russian mercenaries killed in the conflict is unknown.