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Russian MiG-29 fighter jet crashes in Mediterranean.
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Media captionThe Russian flotilla earlier passed through the English Channel
A Russian MiG-29 fighter jet has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea as it tried to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the country's defence ministry has said.
The pilot ejected safely from the plane, the ministry said.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is part of a group of Russian warships recently deployed near the Syrian coast.
Nato had expressed concern planes from the carrier would be used to attack civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Refuelling controversy
The defence ministry said the crash was as a result of "technical malfunction" during a training flight.
The jet came down a few kilometres from the carrier and the pilot was picked up by a rescue team.
"The pilot's health is not in danger," the ministry said, adding that he was ready to fly again.
It said that flight operations had not been suspended.
The Admiral Kuznetsov can carry dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters.
Its flotilla sailed from Russia to the Mediterranean via the English Channel last month.
The ships refuelled at sea off North Africa after plans to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta were cancelled amid Nato concerns over their mission.
The naval group also includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines.
The group joined about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast.
Russia has been supporting Syrian government forces in the country's civil conflict, most recently targeting rebels in eastern Aleppo.
Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.
The air strikes have been suspended recently but there are fears that, with the naval flotilla now in place, they will be stepped up again.
Pablo JG Marin
The Mariana DAngelo Editorial Group
