Russian warplane crashes into sea near Syrian coastal city: watchdog

DAMASCUS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A Russian warplane crashed into the sea near the Syrian coastal city of Jableh in Latakia province on Thursday, killing two pilots on board, a monitor group reported.

A huge sound of explosion was heard in Jableh on Thursday morning as the Russian war jet fell into the sea off the Jableh coast, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the reason of the fighter jet crash is unknown.

The Russian Defense Ministry has reportedly confirmed the crash and the death of the pilots.

Russia has an air base in the countryside of Latakia province in northwestern Syria and the Russian warplanes are regularly seen flying over the coast.

There has been no word from the official media outlets in Syria about the plane crash. Enditem