By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A court in a Russian city Monday ordered a temporary suspension of military jet flights from a nearby base after residents complained about jet noise caused while overflying the city.
A regional court in Chelyabinsk city ordered the temporary suspension of flights by Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft from a nearby base. The Su-24 is a strike aircraft designed to deliver missile and bomb attacks at low altitudes.
“The court has ordered the Defence Ministry and the respective Air Force unit to suspend flights by combat aircraft on the flight path over five residential areas of the city, as these flights are deemed illegal,” the court said in a statement.
Local residents complained to the city authorities about the clamour ever since the jets were moved to the nearby Shagol air base in November 2010. Residents have claimed the air force is violating their right to a comfortable living environment.
Chelyabinsk residents complain the intensive roar produced by the Su-24s flying over the city at low altitudes every 10-15 minutes frightens children and triggers car alarms. They say training flights are sometimes even carried out at night.
The regional authorities have supported the residents’ claims and appealed to the Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to resolve the conflict.
Several Chelyabinsk residents filed a lawsuit in a civil court after the Defence Ministry failed to address the issue.