A Russian Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber crashed in a deserted area of Irkutsk Oblast on Tuesday during a scheduled flight, killing the pilot and forcing four crew members to eject, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The state news agency TASS reported the ministry’s statement, which confirmed that a search and rescue team was dispatched to the scene and is currently evacuating the surviving crew members to a base airfield.

Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, reassuring the public that no local residents were harmed. However, the Telegram channel Mash reported that the aircraft collided with a power line, resulting in electricity outages in two nearby villages.

The Tu-22M3, a Soviet-era bomber still integral to Russia’s Air Force, has been deployed in military operations, including strikes against Ukraine. Notably, the aircraft was involved in the heavy bombardment of Mariupol in 2022, where it dropped unguided bombs on the besieged city.

This incident marks the latest in a series of Russian military aircraft accidents. Just over a week ago, on March 24, a Su-25 attack aircraft crashed during a training flight in Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. The string of crashes raises questions about the maintenance and reliability of Russia’s aging military fleet. (ILKHA)