A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in Irkutsk region during a training sortie, and all four crew members ejected safely before impact. The aircraft was on approach to land, carried no combat load, and caused no damage on the ground.
The aircraft came down near Kamenka, with fire crews dispatched to the site and the crew taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Preliminary indications point to engine failure, while a military commission has been sent to investigate the loss.
The airframe loss adds to pressure on Russia’s Tu-22M3 fleet, which remains operationally relevant despite not being on a combat mission.