A Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack jet crashed in the northern Mali city of Gao on Tuesday. A Russian aviator, who was at the controls of the plane, and a member of the Malian Army who was on the ground, died.

The Su-25 was part of a batch of six aircraft delivered in August by Russia to the country, which has been bolstering its armed forces to fight rebels. According to aerotime, the jet was returning from a civilian support mission.

#Mali🇲🇱 There are reports of a plane crash near the airport in #gao. Unconfirmed reports indicate that it was a Su-25 jet that was handed over only two months ago. No word yet on the condition of the crew and whether there may have been casualties on the ground. https://t.co/dB2IziOll4 pic.twitter.com/qBhUbpiqKJ

— Fabian (@fabsenbln) October 4, 2022

In a statement, the Mali Air Force said that, in addition to the deaths, two civilians and eight soldiers were injured, two of them seriously. The organization also says that the causes of the accident are being investigated, stating that it does not appear to be the result of "hostile action".

#Mali communiqué officiel détaillant l'incident du crash du #Su25 à #gao pic.twitter.com/TOK0hj3qOM

- Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) October 4, 2022

This was the second Su-25 accident in a week. On the 28th, the Air Force of Bulgaria has lost one of its modernized Su-25s. The pilot managed to eject.

In August, one Fatal crash with a Russian Su-25 attracted attention on social media. The jet has been used extensively in the Ukrainian War. 

Recognized for its robustness and great resistance to enemy fire, the Su-25 can carry more than 4 tons of a wide range of weapons such as anti-radar missiles, guided bombs and heavy S-25 rockets, in addition to carrying a GSh-30 cannon. -2 caliber 30mm double barrel. The model is operated in almost 20 countries, being among the most used combat aircraft in the world.