Tu‑22M3 bomber crash in Russia: Pilot's tragic death
A strategic bomber Tu-22M3 crashed in the Irkutsk region, the crew ejected, and the pilot died – reported the Russian Ministry of Defence. The aircraft fell in an uninhabited area. According to preliminary findings, the cause of the crash was a technical failure.
- The crash occurred on Wednesday before 6 PM Greenwich Mean Time in the Irkutsk region of Russia. The Tu-22M3 bomber fell in an uninhabited area.
- There were four crew members on board. One of the pilots died, and the rest of the crew managed to eject.
- The cause of the crash was a technical failure. The aircraft hit power lines, causing power outages.
The crash took place on Wednesday before 6 PM Greenwich Mean Time in the Irkutsk region of Russia.
Crash in Russia. The strategic bomber fell to the ground
According to Russian media, there were four crew members on the bomber - it is currently known that one pilot died. During the crash, the aircraft hit power lines, resulting in a power outage in the area. The bomber was not armed.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3 is a Russian supersonic long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear and conventional weapons. It is an advancement of earlier Tu-22 models, designed for increased speed, range, and payload. This aircraft can perform strike, anti-ship, and reconnaissance missions.
According to some reports, the price of a single unit could be as much as 240 million pounds.
Russians regularly attack Ukraine with them
These machines are regularly used for missile attacks on Ukraine.
The Tu-22M3s have also been targeted by Ukrainian defensive actions. On 19th April 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces reported shooting down a Russian Tu-22M3 over the Stavropol region, marking the first such incident since the beginning of the conflict.
