Crash Belarus Air Force Yak-130

On Wednesday 19 May 2021, a Republic of Belarus Air Force Yakovlev Yak-130 combat training aircraft crashed near Baranovichi, 150 km southwest of the capital Minsk.

The Yak-130, operated by the 116th Guards Assault Aviation Base (116 GvShAB) at Lida, experienced a technical malfunction. According to the Ministry of Defence, the crew managed to evade a residential area before ejecting. The pilots managed to eject, but died in the accident. Most probably the aircraft was too low for a safe ejection.

An investigation into the cause of the accident has started.

Photo by Erwin van Dijkman