3 Russian bomber pilots killed by ejection system

MOSCOW (AP) – Three members of a Russian bomber’s air crew were killed on Tuesday when their ejection seat was accidentally activated during pre-flight checks, the army said.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the incident took place at an air base in the Kaluga region, about 145 kilometers southwest of Moscow.

It is said that the crew of a long-range bomber Tu-22M3 were preparing them for a training mission when the ejection system did not work and accidentally fired the crew. The ministry said the height was not enough to open the parachutes, and three of the four crew members died due to injuries.

Russian media reported that Colonel Vadim Beloslyudtsev, the commander of the bombing unit stationed at the Shaikovka air base near Kaluga, was among the victims.

Russian news reports said the fourth crew member survived the incident and was admitted to hospital.

An official investigation into the incident has been launched. Accidental activation of the rescue system is extremely rare, and some experts have speculated that it could have been caused by an electrical fault or human error.

The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic two-engine long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

It is estimated that about 60 will remain in service with the Russian air force, and some have flown bombs to strike militants in Syria from their bases in Russia.

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