Russian fighter jet crash lands without landing gear

A Russian military jet has made a dramatic emergency landing without its landing gear, sliding to a stop on its belly in what many online have described as a remarkable feat of piloting.

The incident, captured in a widely shared video, shows the aircraft—a Soviet-era Su-25 Frogfoot—approaching a military airstrip before descending onto the runway without its wheels deployed.

Sparks erupted as the plane scraped along the tarmac, with the pilot deploying a drag parachute to slow the jet’s momentum.

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Despite the intensity of the landing, the aircraft came to a clean stop, seemingly intact, after the risky maneuver.

Footage of the landing quickly gained traction on X, previously known as Twitter, where it racked up over 170,000 views and sparked a flurry of reactions.

The plane, which bears the now-infamous white ‘Z’ symbol on its fuselage—a marking frequently seen on Russian military vehicles operating in Ukraine—was landing at an undisclosed airfield near Russia’s border with Ukraine on Saturday, March 22.

The ‘Z’ emblem, along with other letters like ‘O’ and ‘V,’ has become emblematic of Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine and is often associated with propaganda or frontline identification.

Observers were quick to praise the pilot’s calm execution under pressure. One user remarked, “Say what you want about that, but that’s an extremely good landing.

Social media comment on the post. (Picture: Jam Press)

Fair play.” Another joked that the pilot must have experience playing flight simulators like War Thunder, while others were genuinely stunned by the control demonstrated: “I’ve seen worse landings with the gear down,” one comment read.

“Impressive.” Yet, not all the feedback was glowing—criticism was directed at the lack of emergency ground response, with one commenter noting the absence of firefighting foam or support personnel on standby.

Some users were more ambivalent, acknowledging the skill involved while remaining critical of the larger context.

“You have to give it to the pilot – a perfect landing, great skill,” one wrote. “It’s good the plane is damaged, it’s a pity it’s not destroyed.”

Social media comment on the post. (Picture: Jam Press)

The Russian military has not released any official statement regarding the reason for the emergency landing or what mission the aircraft was undertaking at the time.

The Su-25, known by its NATO reporting name Frogfoot, was originally developed during the Cold War to support ground forces with direct air strikes and is still in active use due to its ruggedness and durability.

Though less advanced than modern multi-role jets, its thick armor and reinforced build make it highly resilient in combat zones.

Aviation materials specialist Dr. Emily Carter weighed in on the aircraft’s ability to survive such a rough landing.

“Titanium can absorb significant friction and impact without fracturing, which likely minimised damage during this slide,” she explained, referring to the plane’s underside construction.

The Su-25’s reinforced airframe, particularly around its belly, is designed to withstand severe wear and heat—an engineering trait that may have saved the aircraft from breaking apart on impact.

While the lack of an official explanation leaves key questions unanswered, the video has only fueled more speculation and commentary online, adding to the ongoing narrative around Russian military operations and the high-stakes conditions in which their pilots often operate.

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SOURCE: Russian fighter jet crash lands on belly without landing gear