 C00175495
 CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
 CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
 APSN OV0111135692
 DDAT 921023
 SLIN Khabarovsk Radio Khabarovsk Network in Russian 0945 GMT 23 Oct 92
 SUBS [From the "Kray News" program
 SUBJ Search Continues for Downed Su-27 Pilot
 Full Text Superzone of Message
 1    ]
 2    [Text] The fruitless search for Vladimir Molokanov, a military pilot who
 went missing on 24 July near the Okhotsk Sea coast, has been going on for
 three months.  On that day, Captain Molokanov, pilot first class, was
 returning in an Su-27 from the site of anti aircraft and missile training
 in Chukotka.  However, he did not reach his regiments's airfield in
 Komsomolsk-Na-Anure.  Contact with the interceptor was suddenly lost at
 noon local time, when it was in the area of the Shantarskiye Islands.
 Various explanations for the incident have been offered -- an accident,
 loss of consciousness by the pilot, escape abroad, and abduction by a UFO.
 But none of these have been confirmed as yet.
 3     Aleksandr Nosov, head of the search team, said that the search in the area
 where the supposed accident occurred, an analysis of radio exchanges with
 the pilot, and an examination of the extraordinary event by experts so far
 have yielded no results.  The only prevalent explanation is an accident.
 On its way home the jet suffered a failure in the regulators of both
 engines, but since it was possible to continue flight with such a
 malfunction, this was what Molokanov was advised to do.  No confirmation
 for any other explanation has been found.
 4    As for an escape abroad, both foreign and military intelligence and the
 diplomatic corps have carried out an investigation.  No trace was found of
 the vanished Su-27 in Japan, the United States or South Korea.
 5    This is the second time that a military p      as               disappeared
 from this air regiment.  (endall) 230945             130111.011
 01/1357z Nov BT #0053 NNNN
 I Z2.
 Approved for Release
 --;j2,?o I

