The Russian Defense Ministry is still searching...

The fighter had been performing a scheduled flight on Thursday and was about 30 km away from the Dzemga airbase in Russia"s Far East when it disappeared off the radar screens.

"At approximately 20 kilometers from Dzemga airbase Russian Defense Ministry rescue teams have discovered the apparent crash site of the Su-27 Flanker fighter jet in the Khabarovsk Territory," Alexei Kuznetsov said. "A crater of 10 by 5 meters has been found," he added.

It was earlier reported that military rescue teams discovered the wreckage of the jet and were continuing the search for the pilot.

A military rescue team consisting of 12 members was sent to the site.

The Su-27 is a Mach-2 class air-superiority aircraft designed as a direct competitor for the heavy fourth generation Western fighters, such as the F-15 Eagle.

About 450 Su-27 aircraft have been built for the Russian Air Force since 1984, and over 200 jets have been exported to other countries, including China,

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