Two Tupolev-22M3 crew members die in crash, confirms Defense Ministry
Two others survived and were taken to hospital
MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Two crew members of a Tupolev-22M3 bomber, which crashlanded in the Murmansk Region Tuesday afternoon, died. Two others survived and were taken to hospital, the Defense Ministry’s press-service said.
"On January 22, 2019, a Tupolev-22M3 bomber crashlanded in a blizzard after a routine training flight," the Defense Ministry said. Collision with the runway caused the plane to fall apart. The bomber carried no weapons.
According to reports from the scene of the incident two crew members were taken to hospital to be given the necessary medical assistance.
"Two crew members died," the Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, a source in the law enforcement told TASS a Tupolev-22M3 bomber crashlanded in the Murmansk Region. Two crew members - the commander and navigator survived - reportedly survived. The plane carried a crew of four - the commander, co-pilot, navigator and operator. According to the source, the plane crashed at the long-range aviation airdrome in Olenegorsk, the Murmansk Region, at 13:40 Moscow time.
The air base Olenya is situated in the Kola Peninsula 92 kilometers south of Murmansk, near Olenegrosk. It accommodates Tupolev-22M3 bombers. The concrete runway is 3,500 meters long.
The Tupolev-22M3 having a crew of four is meant for attacking strategic targets on the enemy’s territory. Its maximum speed is 2,300 kilometers per hour, and range of flight, 7,000 kilometers.