Russian air force loses second plane in 3 days

MOSCOW, June 19 (Reuters) - Russia's air force lost its second fighter plane in three days on Friday when an Su-24 crashed in southern Russia, but both pilots survived, Russian news agencies reported.

The air force immediately grounded its fleet of Su-24s, a Soviet era plane also known by the NATO reporting name Fencer, Interfax news agency said.

The crew tried to land several times, but technical problems prevented them from doing so, Interfax quoted a military source as saying. "Flight control then gave the command to leave the aerodrome area for a safe place and eject".

Another SU-24 plane crashed on Wednesday while coming in to land in the northern Murmansk Region, Russian media reported. Both pilots survived.

The commander of Russia's air force said last August that the nation's air defences were in disarray and needed huge investment to keep up with the West.

A Russian Air Force spokesman declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries)