A shocking video circulating on social media captures the dramatic moment a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashes in a fiery explosion, tragically resulting in the death of one crew member. The footage reveals the chaotic aftermath of the accident.
The aircraft, which reportedly took off from Belaya airbase, is seen engulfed in flames mid-air before plummeting to the ground in Irkutsk, Siberia, yesterday.
Initially, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed there were no casualties, issuing a statement to the state-aligned RIA Novosti news agency: “The crew ejected. Their lives are not in danger. The plane crashed in an uninhabited area. There is no damage on the ground.”
However, this account was later contradicted by Irkutsk region Governor Igor Kobzev. Posting on the Telegram messaging app, he stated: “Work at the crash site of the military aircraft TU-22M3 continued all night. To my deep regret, one of the pilots could not be saved. This information is provided by the military command bodies of the Russian Ministry of Defence. Sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased pilot. This is a truly grievous loss.”
The deceased crew member is believed to have been a flight navigator. Photos from the scene show another individual receiving treatment for what appears to be a minor head injury, while the other pilots reportedly sustained injuries of “varying severity,” according to Kobzev.
He added: “The victims were hospitalised. I wish them a speedy recovery. Specialists will now have to determine the exact cause of the crash. Yesterday, the preliminary version was a technical malfunction.”
Irkutsk is a remote region located thousands of miles from Moscow.