The Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian military Tu-22M3 strategic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons was involved in an ejection seat malfunction today, killing three personnel.
The state-run TASS news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as reporting, “A Tu-22M3 military aircraft was preparing for lift-off on the ground at an airfield in Kaluga district (Kaluga) today when its ejection system suddenly activated as planned.”
The Defense Ministry said three personnel on board died of injuries because the ejection was not high enough to allow the parachute to open.
A government commission has been sent to the crime scene near the city of Kaluga to examine the bomber, as well as to investigate the cause of the accident. The city of Kaluga is located about 190 kilometers southwest of the capital Moscow.
AFP contacted a Defense Ministry spokeswoman, but she declined to provide further details.
TASS also quoted sources as saying that one person on board survived.
Russia uses Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bombers, designed in the Soviet era, for Syria and other operations.
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