09 June 2015
Officials ground the iconic Tu-95 bomber fleet as investigation launched into
what brought down aircraft on take-off.
One person is dead and as many as five
more injured after a military plane crashed in the Russian Far East.
The Tu-95MS strategic bomber had been
taking off when it skidded off the runway at the Ukrainka airfield, in the Amur
region, at 11pm on Monday.
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft was
completely destroyed, with officials saying the accident was caused by a fire
in one of the engines. Only the tail section has been left intact.
According to the press service of the Defense
Ministry several crew members were injured and taken to hospital. Sources say
three people are being treated in Belogorsk, with the crew commander suffering
severe burns covering 75 per cent of his body.
While there is no confirmation from
officials, it is understood one person died and another is still unaccounted
for. Totally there were seven people on board.
The four-engine
Tupolev Tu-95, called the Bear under NATO classification, is a symbol of the
Russian military and is often seen on reconnaissance trips over Europe.
First flown
in the Soviet Union in 1956, it is expected to be used by the Russian Air Force
until at least 2040 and is designed to carry cruise missiles. It is a powerful
plane and is able to fly on long-range missions, with 42 of the 63-strong fleet
based at Ukrainka.
As
investigations continue into Monday’s crash, the entire fleet has been grounded
until further notice by the commander-in-chief of the Air Force.
A statement
from the Russian Ministry said: 'The Tu-95 overran the runway during
acceleration. There was no ammunition on board. According to preliminary
information, engine fire was the cause behind the accident.'
