A Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashed near the village of Mikhailovka in the Irkutsk region on the evening of August 15, leading to a series of explosions at the crash site.
Witnesses report that the aircraft was carrying Kh-22 missiles, which detonated after the plane went down.
Eyewitnesses, who arrived at the scene alongside local police, captured video footage of one of the explosions.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, shows the aftermath of the crash and the subsequent detonation of the munitions onboard.
UPDATE: Although all 4 crew ejected from the Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber, one pilot died and 3 others are hospitalized.
The aircraft was armed and the missiles cooked off after crashing into the ground. https://t.co/sqFa0U470D pic.twitter.com/3urtq3lwi3— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) August 16, 2024
Earlier reports confirmed that the bomber, which was flying over the Cheremkhovo district of the Irkutsk region, went down due to what appears to be a technical malfunction. Initial information indicated that all four crew members managed to eject from the aircraft before impact. However, Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev later clarified that one of the crew members had succumbed to their injuries.
The Tu-22M3 is a long-range, supersonic bomber designed for maritime strike missions and equipped to carry a variety of munitions, including the Kh-22 anti-ship missile. The aircraft has been a key component of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet for decades, though its aging technology has led to concerns about reliability.
Russia uses these bombers to strike Ukraine.
This crash adds to a growing list of aviation incidents involving Russian military aircraft, raising questions about the state of maintenance and readiness within the Russian Air Force.