A Kazakhstan Air Force Sukhoi SU-30SM fighter jet crashed on February 25, 2026, during a training flight in the Karaganda Region near the city of Balkhash, according to statements from Kazakhstan media citing the country’s Ministry of Defense.
The crew ejected in time and survived, according to reports. The Ministry of Defense said the pilots did not face life-threatening injuries and medical specialists placed them under observation.
Officials cordoned off the crash area and reported no threat to the local population or nearby infrastructure.
Authorities have not released a cause. The Ministry of Defense said it formed a commission to investigate the incident and establish what happened.
Officials did not disclose details about damage to the aircraft beyond the statement that the site posed no threat to people or infrastructure.
The Sukhoi SU-30 is a two-seat derivative of the SU-27 that first flew in 1989 and entered service in the early 1990s, evolving from a long-range interceptor into a multirole fighter family exported widely across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Built in multiple variants for different customers, it became a backbone platform for air forces such as India (SU-30MKI) and China (SU-30MKK/MK2), supporting missions that range from air-defense alert and long-range patrol to maritime strike and precision attack.
In Russian service, the modernized SU-30SM entered the inventory in the 2010s and has seen operational use in recent conflicts.
The Su-30SM serves as a frontline fighter in several air forces across the region. Kazakhstan has previously reported Su-30SM accidents associated with the Balkhash area, including a 2021 crash during a training exercise that ended with both pilots ejecting safely.
