A nuclear-capable Russian strategic bomber aircraft prized by Vladimir Putin that cost the authoritarian £228million crashed tonight in a remote Siberian region.
Footage showed the moment it exploded. The cause of the Tu-22M3 going out of control was not immediately revealed.
Witnesses said this type of plane – used by Vladimir Putin as a key plank in his nuclear arsenal – broke up in the sky before crashing amid fierce explosions.
It came at a time of deeply strained relations between the east and west, and as Russia is at war with Ukraine.
Putin’s regime is also making repeated threats to unleash nuclear weapons on Ukraine or the West.
A nuclear-capable Russian strategic bomber aircraft prized by Vladimir Putin that cost the authoritarian £228million crashed tonight in a remote Siberian region
Footage showed the moment it exploded. The cause of the Tu-22M3 going out of control was not immediately revealed
The Tu-22M3 (pictured) is prized by Putin for its nuclear capabilities
Putin (pictured) has heavily invested in his nation’s military
Initial reports said the crew of four had safely ejected before the aircraft hit the ground and exploded in the Irkutsk region of Siberia.
Three had been located and a search was underway for a fourth who had a broken leg, according to reports.
Later reports said he had been found.
The worst they suffered were ‘bruises and fractures’
There was not thought to be any danger of nuclear pollution.
The plane crashed near the village of Mikhailovka in Irkutsk region, some 3,300 miles east of Moscow.
It came down close to a major highway.
While the cause was not given, a routine explanation of a ‘technical malfunction’ was fed to the Russian media.
The plane crashed near the village of Mikhailovka in Irkutsk region, some 3,300 miles east of Moscow
While the cause was not given, a routine explanation of a ‘technical malfunction’ was fed to the Russian media
It came down close to a major highway
Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin this week deployed two Tu-22M3 to threaten the West in a nuclear drill over the Baltic Sea.
At the same time, two Tu-95MS strategic nuclear missile carriers buzzed the north of Britain by flying over the Norwegian Sea escorted by MiG-31 combat warplanes.
The captain was the last to eject, reported SOTA media.
The bomber had been flying from the Belaya airfield when it crashed evidently soon after takeoff.
A report said: ‘The crew miraculously steered the falling plane away from residential buildings and ejected.’
Locals said there were repeated explosions from the crash site.
A fire at the crash site was being extinguished by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Locals report that there were explosions at the site of the wreckage after the crash.