Videos show Ukrainian surveillance plane shot down by MANPADS (and crew jump from it)

A Ukrainian AN-30 reconaissance plane was shot down by MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) in east Ukraine.

On Jun. 6, a Ukrainian Air Force AN-30 (or AN-26), believed to carry out surveillance missions was hit and downed by MANPADS over Slavyansk.

The aircraft reportedly crashed near Svyatogorsk north of Slavyansk.

Footage and photos showing the downing and the evacuation of the plane by the aircrew before the aircraft crashed into the ground have already been posted on Liveleak, Youtube and various Social Media.

We recently pointed out the risk posed by MANPADS to Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft and helicopters.

Once again, thanks to Steppen Wolf for the heads-up

Top image via @Novorussia2015

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About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.