Moscow: Two heavy Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jets collided mid-air during an aerobatics drill over the Russian town of Zhukovski, ahead of an international aero-space show to be inaugurated there on Tuesday.
The jets belonging to Russian Knights aerobatic group of the Russian Air Force were part of a joint drill with another aerobatic group of MiG-29 fighters 'Strizhi' (Larks).
Both the pilots bailed out safely, Vesti FM radio said.
The debris of the planes fell on a small countryside cooperative of cottages causing fire on the ground, it said. However, no further reports were immediately available.
According to ITAR-TASS the accident took place when after an aerobatic rehearsal with the group of four MiG-29 fighters, five Su-27 were flying over the nearby Moskva River for regrouping.
No damage was inflicted on the ground at the Zhukovski airbase where the airshow 'MAKS-2009' is to be inaugurated on Tuesday by President Dmitry Medvedev, it said.
The organisers have suspended all training flights, although no changes would be made to the programme of the airshow.
Air Chief, General Zelin has ordered a high-level probe into the incident.