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An investigative unit from the Far Eastern Military Prosecutor’s Office has launched an inspection into the crash of a Su-25 military jet aircraft which occurred in central Primorye on Thursday, killing the pilot.

The jet plane crashed while performing a regularly scheduled flight at the Novoselskoye testing center at the aviation garrison of Chernigovka, Spassky County, 143 kilometers from Vladivostok, at 10:33 a.m. local time.

According to preliminary reports, the accident resulted from the failure of the plane’s aviation equipment during a training exercise, Ria Novosti news agency cited a press statement from Russia’s Air Force as saying. The 39-year-old pilot did not have time to eject himself and died on the spot.

Another possible cause of the crash could be the detonation of a shell on board the aircraft, The Vladivostok reported citing a Primorye anti-aircraft defense division.

No casualties or damage to property occurred at the site of the crash, reports said.

A criminal case based on the violation of flight regulations and preparations has been launched, the agency reported.

Currently, representatives of the Far Eastern Military Prosecutor’s Office and the investigative department of the Far Eastern Military District are working at the crash site.

Flight records indicate that the pilot had amassed a career of nearly 18 years flying aircrafts, Ria Novosti reported.

Meanwhile, the Su-25 flights are temporarily suspended as ordered by Russia’s Air Force chief, Colonel General Alexander Zelin, the agency said.

The Su-25, a single-seat, twin-engine attack jet aircraft, was developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau intended to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. After successful test flights, the plane became part of the Forces aircraft in 1981.