A Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber belonging to Russia’s Air Force has crashed in the Irkutsk Region of southeastern Siberia, as confirmed by the Defense Ministry.
The dramatic incident occurred during a routine flight shortly after 10 PM local time on Thursday when one of the jet’s engines apparently caught fire in mid-air due to a suspected technical malfunction.
The crew managed to guide the falling plane away from residential areas, ultimately ensuring there were no civilian casualties or damage on the ground.
Three pilots who ejected first were found alive and in “satisfactory” condition, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, the captain, who was the last to leave the aircraft, reportedly broke his leg.
Eyewitness accounts and footage captured by local residents indicate that the crash occurred in a deserted area. Several videos showed the burning plane going down, while others captured multiple secondary explosions at the crash site.
Emergency services eventually extinguished the blaze.
Early reports suggest that a technical malfunction was likely to blame, as the incident reportedly occurred just minutes after takeoff, but the Defense Ministry has yet to conduct an investigation.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3 is a modern version of the supersonic long-range strategic nuclear-capable bomber that first entered service in the 1970s. The plane involved in the accident was not the latest M3M version with upgraded avionics and radars; it is unclear whether the jet underwent any other upgrades or overhauls.
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