[v1r]

On August 13, 2023, during the Thunder Over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a privately owned Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23UB Flogger fighter jet experienced a critical incident. For reasons yet to be determined, both occupants of the MiG-23UB were forced to execute an ejection at a low altitude. The aircraft subsequently crashed into vehicles parked near a residential building.

The two pilots were safely recovered from Belleville Lake and were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries on the ground. The crash led to the cancellation of the remainder of the Thunder Over Michigan air show. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to initiate an investigation into the crash.

Footage captured by bystanders showed the aircraft with the engine still running when both pilots ejected, indicating that the ejection was not caused by an engine failure. The MiG-23UB, a Soviet-era supersonic fighter jet, was developed as an interceptor and ground-attack aircraft. The MiG-23 holds the distinction of being the most produced variable-sweep wing aircraft in history, with the MiG-23UB being a two-seat training version of the model.

[v1r]

[Caduceus]

I hear Ukrainian with a Stinger.

[kellyhound]

What do you do if you're a commercial airline pilot but you're itching to get back into a fighter jet?

For one United Airlines pilot, you buy one. They cost $1.4 million.

The world's only privately owned MiG-23UB fighter jet, No. 8107, owned by Dan Filer, was listed near the end of the Michigan air show program Sunday when the Russian-made fighter jet crashed at 4:15 p.m. in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Van Buren Township.

Two pilots successfully ejected from the vintage jet in mid-air at the Thunder over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti and were rescued from Belleville Lake.

Filer, a United pilot from Texas, is a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who flew an A-6 Intruder during his time in the service, he told KLTV last year. He's completed 200 carrier landings, mostly at night, and 47 missions in the first Gulf War.

So for fun, he flies at airshows around the country, most recently at EAA Airventure Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, before heading to Michigan with his used MiG. It was unclear if Filer was the pilot Sunday; he could not immediately be reached for comment, but he has posted about his air show runs on Facebook.

Photographer Michael Rollinger recalled capturing the jet No. 8107 during the event in July.

"They had some issues with a window on the canopy falling off I know at Oshkosh," said Rollinger, who shared photos with The Detroit News of the window being repaired before takeoff. "I have no idea if that could've led to their ejection today. It's very sad to see what happened to the plane and thanking God so far no one was hurt in the plane and on the ground."

[smackem]

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[v1r]

Originally Posted by smackem ↗

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That's way close to a building.

[Faust]

Did they really not suffer any injuries? As the eject happens so close to the ground

[smackem]

Originally Posted by Faust ↗

Did they really not suffer any injuries? As the eject happens so close to the ground

No injuries or fatalities.

[iARTEMx]

Originally Posted by Faust ↗

Did they really not suffer any injuries? As the eject happens so close to the ground

I think 40-50 meters are enough... Becouse, if you can see, the eject sustem put you in the top, so with this you can reach I think at least 5-10 meters, and once you go down, the parachute opens

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

Hope he was current on his insurance premiums.