Russian authorities have opened a criminal case following the crash of a Tu-95 strategic bomber in Amur Oblast that killed six crew members. The military aircraft was conducting a routine training flight without ammunition when it went down in a remote area near the village of Krasnoyarovo.
According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, investigators launched the criminal case under Article 351 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The article governs violations of flight rules or operational preparation for military aircraft.
A total of seven crew members were on board the strategic bomber during the training mission. Six crew members died at the crash site, while one surviving crew member was retrieved and taken to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Preliminary information indicates that the bomber crashed due to a technical malfunction in an uninhabited area. Unofficial reports suggested that an explosion involving fuel on board the aircraft may have led to the crash.
Strategic bomber safety investigation
The Tu-95, developed by the Tupolev design bureau during the Soviet era, is a large four-engine turboprop strategic bomber and missile carrier. It serves as a fundamental aircraft within the long-range aviation division of the Russian air force, built for strategic deterrent missions and long-distance patrols.
Amur Oblast is a federal region situated in the Russian Far East along the international border with China. The settlement of Krasnoyarovo is a rural locality located within the administrative boundaries of the province.
Kommersant is a prominent Moscow-based daily newspaper covering Russian national politics, military affairs and legal proceedings. Inquiries conducted under Article 351 are handled by military investigators to determine whether flight safety protocols were breached prior to or during military flights.
Russian investigative agencies are continuing their inquiry into the incident to confirm the official cause of the failure and evaluate the actions of the flight personnel.
