The Russian manufacturer of the Su-27 jet fighter that crashed at a Polish air show on Sunday killing two Belarusians onboard, has offered help in the investigation.

The Sukhoi plane maker has said that if the Belarusian armed forces call for assistance then they will be only too ready to help, the Rianovosti news agency reports.

Initial findings suggest that a bird entered the plane’s engine, which was on demonstration maneuvers at the Radom air show, Sunday lunchtime. After initially informing that they would eject, the two pilots – named as Col. Alexander Morfintsky and Col. Alexander Zhuravlevich – realised that they were too close to the audience and homes that surrounded the airfield and tried to steer the fighter jet to a safer area.

The Su-27 eventually crashed in flames, 100 meters from a dwelling, with the pilots still onboard. President Lech Kaczynski yesterday offered his condolences to the families of the two men. (pg)