A MiG-29 fighter jet crashed into the Mediterranean on Monday while on the approach to land on the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a press release.

"An air accident involving a sea-based MiG-29K occurred as a results of an equipment fault during an approach for deck landing several kilometers away from the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov," according to the ministry.

"The pilot ejected himself from the aircraft and was taken to the Amidral Kuznetsov by a crew of the search and rescue service," the press release said. "His health is not in danger and he is ready to perform further tasks."

The ministry has pointed out that Russian Naval group in the Mediterranean continues carrying out their tasks. 

The flotilla of Russia’s North Fleet that left a mission in northwestern Atlantic and the Mediterranean on October 15. It includes the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying cruiser Pyotr Veliky, the big antisubmarine ships Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov, and auxiliary seacraft.

On November 12, the commander of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Captain 1st Rank Sergei Artamonov said in a report the group was in the eastern Mediterranean and making maneuvers off Syria’s coast.

MiG-29K is a new Russian deck-based fighter jet designed for the purposes of air defense of naval ship squadrons, for reaching supremacy in the air, as well as for destruction of surface and ground-based targets.