Russian Tu-95MS Strategic Bomber Crashes Minutes After Takeoff In Amur Region, 6 Dead

Amur: At least 6 persons have lost their lives after a Russian military aircraft crashed only moments after getting airborne in the far eastern region of Amur on Tuesday, Russia's Interfax news agency has reported, quoting the country's defence ministry.

Early information suggested that the aircraft involved was a Tupolev Tu-154, which was developed in the Soviet era with three engines. It had initially been conceived to fly medium-haul passenger services but in later years found extensive deployment with Moscow's armed forces and government wings for logistics and special-purpose operations.

The tragedy occurred close to the settlement of Krasnoyarovo, not long after the aircraft had left the ground. 7 people were reportedly aboard at the time of the incident and according to the report, 6 did not survive, with two of the victims succumbing to injuries while being shifted to hospital for treatment.

Workhorse Of Soviet Aviation

The Tu-154 programme traces the origins back to 1968, when the prototype undertook its maiden flight, before moving into commercial operations in the early part of the 1970s. Over the decades, the type emerged as one of the most common airliners across the Soviet Union, especially on internal sectors, with output exceeding a thousand airframes.

The combination of 3 rear-mounted engines, sturdy undercarriage and the capability to use airfields with limited infrastructure made the aircraft particularly suited to Russia's enormous geography. Even though the career in scheduled passenger flying has largely drawn to a close, a limited number of airframes have been kept on in official and military duties.

Among the operators that have continued to fly the type is the Russian military's 223rd Flight Squad, which employs the Tu-154 for moving personnel between locations.

History Of High-Profile Losses And Current Probe

The aircraft family has also been linked with some of Russia's most deadly military aviation losses. In December 2016, a Defence Ministry Tu-154 plunged into the Black Sea immediately after departing Sochi, killing all 92 individuals on board, including service members, media personnel and artists of the Alexandrov Ensemble who were on their way to Syria.

In the latest incident on Tuesday, the officials stated that the fuel tanks of the jet burst after hitting the ground, triggering a blaze that engulfed the wreckage. So far, the officials have not disclosed the cause that led to the crash of the aircraft shortly after takeoff.

An inquiry is expected to be launched to establish the sequence of events that led to the crash and to determine the factors behind it. Further details regarding the incident are awaited.