Russian Bomber Crashes in Irkutsk Oblast, Killing Pilot
A Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber crashed on April 2 in Irkutsk Oblast. The pilot was killed and four crew members were forced to eject. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the aircraft was conducting a scheduled flight when it went down.
The crash occurred in a deserted area, and no local residents were injured, said Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev. He attributed the accident to a technical malfunction.
However, another report suggested that the plane may have struck a power line, causing electricity outages in two nearby villages. The incident is under investigation.
The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic bomber developed by the Soviet Union and remains a key component of Russia’s Air Force. It has been used in strikes against Ukraine, including in the heavy bombardment of Mariupol in 2022.
This is not the first Russian military aircraft crash. On March 24, a Su-25 attack aircraft went down during a training flight in Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East.
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