Showing posts with label Tu-22M3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tu-22M3. Show all posts

24 March, 2021

Russian crew killed in ejector seat malfunction.

A Tu-22M 
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that three Tu-22M3 long-range bomber crew members have been killed in an accident at Shaikovka, an airbase some 90 miles southwest of Moscow.

According to the ministry, the three airmen were killed on Tuesday, as they were getting ready for a training mission and the ejector system went off accidentally and there was insufficient altitude for the parachutes to open and three of the four crew members died of injuries. A fourth member was also involved in the incident and suffered serious injuries and has been taken to hospital.

At this stage, it is unclear how the ejector mechanisms fired while the crew conducted preflight checks and an investigation has been launched, "to examine the plane technically and establish the causes of the incident," the ministry advised.

The Tupolev Tu-22 is a 1960 designed aircraft, with the M3 variant taking to the skies during the early 1980's.  It is a supersonic long-range strategic and maritime bomber, with moveable swept wings and operates with a crew of four. 

There have been a number of training exercises involving the bombers in recent days at the base and the type have been involved in operations over Syria in recent months. 


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