MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter has crashed in eastern Syria, killing both pilots on board, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

The helicopter crashed during a scheduled flight over Syria's eastern regions, the ministry was quoted as saying in a statement by Sputnik news agency.

Preliminary information shows that the helicopter could have experienced a technical malfunction before the crash, the statement said.

Earlier this month, a Russian Su-30SM fighter crashed over the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Syria.