Air Force confirms the death of Major Serhiy Bondar, 46, after accident occurred during landing
A MiG-29 fighter jet of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine crashed during landing after returning from a combat mission. The information was confirmed by the official Air Force Telegram channel.
According to the statement, the aircraft’s pilot, Major Serhiy Bondar, born in 1979, did not survive the accident. He was 46 years old at the time of the tragedy.
The Air Force reported that specialized teams have already begun work to determine the causes of the crash.
+ Video: Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornet explodes during takeoff in Kuantan
Recent honors
On June 6, 2025, Major Bondar was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, 3rd class, according to Presidential Decree No. 392/2025. The decoration is granted to servicemen for bravery and merit in the line of duty.
Other incidents
This was not the first setback recorded by Ukrainian aviation this year. Previously, the Air Force lost a Mirage-2000 fighter jet due to a technical malfunction. On that occasion, the pilot managed to eject successfully and survived, acting professionally in a critical situation.
Source and images: militarnyi | Wikimedia | Telegram @kpszsu. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
