AMUR REGION, Russia: Six crew members were killed after a Russian military aircraft crashed during a routine training flight in the Far Eastern Amur region, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
The aircraft, a Tu-95 strategic bomber, went down in a remote area during the exercise. The ministry said the plane was not carrying any weapons at the time of the crash.
One crew member survives
Russia’s Defence Ministry said one crew member survived and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Air Force officials were sent to the crash site to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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The aircraft was reportedly operating from the Ukrainka air base, one of Russia’s major long-range aviation facilities. The crash occurred near the village of Krasnoyarovo, around 30 kilometres north of the base, according to local reports.
Investigation underway
Officials have not announced the cause of the crash.
Unverified reports from Russian security-linked Telegram channels suggested that the aircraft may have crashed following an engine fire and explosion, but authorities have not confirmed those reports.
The Tu-95 is a long-range strategic bomber operated by Russia’s Aerospace Forces and is among the country’s most recognisable military aircraft.
The incident comes as Russian military aviation continues to conduct regular training operations involving long-range aircraft.
