The RIA Novosti news agency also said citing source from Russian defense ministry that one pilot was killed in the collision.

"There is thick smoke over the site. We saw two parachutes in the air after the collision," the RIA quoted a witness as saying.

Five civilians were injured following the crash and have been hospitalized, the RIA added, citing a local police spokesman.

The cause of the collision has yet to be determined, and it maybe either "a bird hitting the engine or pilot error," said the Interfax.

Two Russian jet fighters have collided while rehearsing for a major air show outside of Moscow, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009.Both pilots parachuted to safety.[Xinhua]

Prosecutors from the Moscow Military District has launched a probe into the incident.

"A commission, comprised of Defense Ministry and Air Force command representatives, has been formed to investigate the accident," the Interfax quoted Drik as saying.

Also on Sunday, another two people were killed in a light-engine Yak-52 trainer aircraft crash southwest of Russian capital.

"The plane crashed at about 12:50 p.m. (0850 GMT) on the border between the Kaluga and Moscow regions during a training flight. Two people, a man and a woman, were killed, according to preliminary reports," said the RIA, citing a local emergencies spokesman.

[Xinhua]