Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber caught fire and crashed in Eastern Siberia. What is the fate of the crew?

On August 15, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that a Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber of the country crashed in the Irkutsk region in Eastern Siberia.

The Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber is 42.4m long; its wingspan when spread is 34.28m and when folded is 23.3m. (Source: Wikipedia)

TASS news agency quoted the announcement as saying: "On August 15, a Tu-22M3 aircraft crashed while performing a routine flight in the Irkutsk region. The crew escaped. Their lives are not in danger."

The plane crashed in a deserted area and there was no damage on the ground. According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a "technical failure".

Rescuers arrived at the scene and found four crew members. The plane crashed about 15km from the Belaya military airport.

The Tu-22M3 (full name Tupolev-22M3) is a modern version of the long-range, supersonic strategic bomber, sea-based attack aircraft, which has been in use since the 1970s.

A total of 497 Tu-22M3s were built, of which about 100 are still in service with the Russian Air Force.

The Tu-22M3 is 42.4m long; its wingspan is 34.28m when spread and 23.3m when folded. Its take-off weight is 124 tons. Although smaller than the Tu-160 and Tu-95, the Tu-22M3 can still carry 24 tons of weapons, including nuclear weapons. The aircraft can operate in all weather conditions and day and night.

The Tu-22M3 can perform various combat missions with the Kh-15 anti-ship missile or the Raduga Kh-22 missile, both of which can reach a flight speed of more than 6,000 km/h with a range of up to 1,000 km.

With the latest upgrade packages, this Russian supersonic bomber can also drop unstoppable heavy glide bombs from outside the enemy's air defenses.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/may-bay-nem-bom-nga-tupolev-tu-22m3-boc-chay-du-doi-roi-xuong-dong-siberia-so-phan-phi-hanh-doan-ra-sao-282795.html