Separate air incidents near the Russian capital have killed three people, including an air show pilot, and wounded at least six others.

A light-engine Yak-52 trainer aircraft crashed in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, on Sunday, killing a man and a woman onboard, Russian news agencies reported citing emergency officials.

Police and rescue teams are inspecting the scene of the crash.

A local police source said those flying the aircraft en route from Drakino airport in the Moscow Region were an instructor and a flight school student.

Earlier the body of one of three pilots rehearsing two days ahead of MAKS-2009 air show was found near the village of Zakharikha, a southeastern province of Moscow.

Two Su-27 fighters collided during the practice flight and a flying skill error may have caused the accident, RIA Novosti quoted a Defense Ministry source as saying.

The killed pilot, Igor Tkachenko, was the commander of Russia's aerobatic team, Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights).

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences to Tkachenko's family.

Prosecutors from the Moscow Military District have reportedly launched a investigation, and Russian Air Force commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, is believed to have left for Zakharikha.

While one of the two surviving pilots has been hospitalized, the fate of the third pilot was not immediately clear.

A local police spokesman also said five injured civilians remained in the hospital following the crash.

ZHD/MD