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Pilot of Tu-22M3 bomber that crashed in Irkutsk dies

Governor Igor Kobzev expressed his condolences to the pilot’s friends and family

IRKUTSK, August 16. /TASS/. One crew member of the Tu-22M3 bomber, which crashed in East Siberia’s Irkutsk Region on Thursday, has died, Governor Igor Kobzev wrote on Telegram.

"Work at the Tu-22M3 crash site continued through the night. To my deep regret, one of the pilots could not be saved. This is what the Russian Defense Ministry’s military command structures say," he said.

The governor expressed his condolences to the deceased pilot’s friends and family.

The official said that three other crew members sustained injuries of varying degrees and were hospitalized.

"The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined by experts. Yesterday, a technical error was viewed as a possible version," Kobzev added.

A Tu-22M3 plane crashed in the Irkutsk Region during a planned sortie in the evening of August 15. The crew ejected. All pilots were found shortly after. A fire broke out at the crash site, but was promptly put out. According to preliminary information, the crash was caused by a technical malfunction.