A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, the same type used to launch Kh-22 missiles over Ukraine, crashed in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the aircraft went down in a deserted area, causing no reported ground damage. Officials initially cited a technical malfunction as the cause. A search and rescue team was dispatched to evacuate the crew.
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Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev shared on Telegram that the plane was on a scheduled flight when it crashed near the village of Buret (population 670).
He confirmed that all four crew members ejected, but the commander reported one pilot was killed. The surviving crew members are receiving medical care.
Despite TASS claiming there was no fire, Russian media published footage showing flames and smoke at the crash site.
The crash also caused a power outage as the plane struck a power line, cutting electricity to 210 homes and three critical facilities. Affected public facilities included a secondary school. Crews were working to restore electricity, according to the Irkutsk Governor.
Power has been restored in the village, Kobzev reported at 7:55 a.m., adding, “However, much work still remains to be done.”
The Tu-22M3, a Soviet-era strategic bomber, has been in service since 1982 and is capable of delivering nuclear and conventional strikes. Armed with Kh-22, Kh-15, Kh-32 missiles, and KAB-500 guided bombs, it plays a key role in Russia’s long-range air power.
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This is not the first Tu-22M3 crash in Irkutsk - on August 15, 2024, another bomber of the same model went down, as per a TASS report. The Russian Defense Ministry also blamed a technical failure at the time.
Unlike Wednesday’s incident, all four crew members survived but suffered injuries and fractures.