Two training aircraft collide in the sky over Zhytomyr region, killing three pilots

Two Ukrainian L-39 training aircraft collided in Zhytomyr region on the evening of August 25, killing three pilots.

Source. This was reported by Ukrainska Pravda.

In particular, according to Pavlo Potseluev, an adviser to the Democratic Ax party, one of the planes was carrying a well-known Ukrainian fighter pilot, Andriy Pilshchikov, with the call sign "Juice".

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed this information in its telegram channel: "We regret to inform you that on August 25, 2023, a terrible plane crash occurred in the Zhytomyr region. While performing a combat mission, the crews of two L-39 combat trainer aircraft collided in the sky. Unfortunately, all three pilots were killed. The investigation is ongoing. Among the dead is a well-known pilot of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade with the call sign "JUICE".

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation. Pylshchikov flew a MiG-29 fighter jet. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he took an active part in the defense of the country, including the skies of Kyiv. He often gave interviews to Western media, where he called for modern fighter jets to be provided to Ukraine.

In his post about the Jus, Potseluev wrote:

"You dreamed of F-16s and waited for news of their delivery. You loved your bird and literally lived in the sky. RIP, Callsign Juice. Now you will literally hold our sky."

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a jet combat trainer developed in the 1960s in Czechoslovakia at the Aero Vodochody aircraft manufacturing facility. The aircraft is designed to train aircrew, some modifications can be used as light attack aircraft and fighters.