MOSCOW (AP) – Three members of a Russian bomber’s crew died on Tuesday when their ejection seats were accidentally activated during preflight checks, the military said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the incident took place at an air base in the Kaluga region about 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Moscow.
It said the crew of a Tu-22M3 long-range bomber was preparing for a training mission when the ejection system malfunctioned and accidentally shot the crew. The ministry said the height was not enough to open the parachutes and three of the four crew died of injuries.
Russian media reported that the victims included Colonel Vadim Beloslyudtsev, the commander of the bomber unit stationed at Shaikovka airbase near Kaluga.
According to Russian news reports, the fourth crew member survived the incident and was hospitalized.
An official investigation into the incident has started. Accidental activation of the rescue system is extremely rare, and some experts speculated it could have been caused by an electrical fault or human error.
The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic twin-engined long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
It is estimated that about 60 remain in service with the Russian Air Force, and some have carried out bombing raids to attack militants in Syria from their bases in Russia.