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| Date: | Friday 5 January 2024 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29GT |
| Owner/operator: | Ukrainian Air Force |
| Registration: | 405 |
| MSN: | N50903006604 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Luganka, Alexandriysky Raion, Kirovograd Oblast -
 Ukraine
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | |
On 5 January 2024, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade was lost while performing a combat mission. The pilot, Vladyslav Zalistovskyi, callsign "Blue Helmet" was killed. Zalistovskyi was 23 years old. He had graduated from Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in 2021.
According to Ukrainian court documentation, the aircraft crashed in farmland located in the vicinity of Luganka, Alexandriysky Raion, Kirovograd Oblast. The aircraft was completely destroyed as a result of the crash.
Russian affiliated sources report that the aircraft was not shot down by forces of the Russian Federation, rather proclaim that the aircraft crashed while in flight, possibly due to pilot error or technical failure. Furthermore, a MiG-29 is not mentioned in the Daily Russian Ministry of Defence briefings for this day. As a result, the likelihood the aircraft was shot down by Russian forces remains low, leaving the possibility of a false identification by Ukrainian air defence, pilot error or mechanical failure as causes for the accident.
The prospect of mechanical failure of the aircraft can be considered a viable cause of the accident. In the years prior to ex-Polish Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets being handed over to Ukraine, various Polish Ministers and Media channels have raised concerns about the poor reliability and maintenance processes of the Polish MiG-29 fleet, following a number of accidents and incidents caused as a result of mechanical failure. This is reportedly attributed to the deterioration of relations with the country of origin of the aircraft manufacturer Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG", based in the Russian Federation. Several Polish media outlets have also criticised the Polish Ministry of National Defence for a lack of transparency and accountability. According to Polish Sejm MP Maciej Kopiec: "Pilots from the 22nd and 23rd. BLT informs that problems with the technical condition of machines appear without interruption. According to them, engineers struggle, among others with cabin malfunctions, dissection of fairings and cracking chassis components."
(See also: https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/212928)
A piano burning ceremony took place in May 2024. Historically, this has been a tradition of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) in comparison to the historically Soviet style and traditions of the Ukrainian Air Force. From this event, the bort number of 405 was identified. As a result, the downed aircraft could be identified as a former Polish Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29GT (sn: N50903006604 / bort: 4105). This two seater variant of the MiG-29 is notable for lacking capability for operating in a demanding air environment, lacking an onboard radar system and only including infrared tracking. However, it is unknown whether another pilot was accompanying Zalistovskyi.
Sources:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1y8vE8Nh7b/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1zU0oFIZse/
https://t.me/army_tv/1152
https://t.me/ZOV_Voevoda/5412
https://suspilne.media/656130-na-vijni-zaginuv-23-ricnij-pilot-bojovogo-litaka-mig-29-vladislav-zalistovskij/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-pilot-blue-helmet-killed-143800188.html
https://twitter.com/MarcinRogowsk14/status/1787234797959496182/photo/2
https://t.me/fighter_bomber/16604
https://verdictum.ligazakon.net/document/116453595
https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm9.nsf/InterpelacjaTresc.xsp?key=BM8C3P
https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/fotel-smierci-dlaczego-zginal-kapitan-sobanski-tajemnica-katastrofy-mig-29/newy4mv
Media:
Starshyy leytenant Vladyslav Zalistovsky perished in the MiG-29 with bort number 405. This strongly suggest that the destroyed aircraft was ex-Polish Air Force MiG-29UB s/n 4105 donated in 2023. https://t.co/jE4jvXgB5x pic.twitter.com/7iJa46OreM
— The Military Watch (@MarcinRogowsk14) May 5, 2024
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Jan-2024 17:23 | Drone Insider | Added |
| 15-Jan-2024 08:27 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 24-Feb-2024 10:06 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 06-May-2024 07:05 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 29-May-2024 14:32 | Anon. | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 06-Jun-2024 12:07 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 08-Jun-2024 06:32 | Anon. | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Jul-2024 10:50 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
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