OREANDA-NEWS. A supersonic interceptor airplane MiG-31 of the Air Defence Forces of Kazakhstan crashed near the airport of Karaganda. The pilots baled out successfully, they are alive.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defence of the republic. The accident occurred during a scheduled flight to prepare for being on duty near the city of Karaganda. “After take-off, there was a fire in one of the engines. After receiving a command for baling out, military pilots directed the plane into the field, away from the village,” the Ministry’s statement published on its website says.

The agency appointed a commission to investigate the incident. A squad of search and rescue service of the Air Defence Forces arrived at the place.