International
oi-Ashish Rana
A Russian Tu-95 military bomber crashed during a training flight in Russia’s Amur region on Tuesday, September 29. Six crew members were killed and another was injured, according to the country’s Defence Ministry.
A Russian Tu-95 military bomber crashed during a training flight in the Amur region on September 29, killing six crew members and injuring one. The incident occurred as Russia plans a significant increase in defence spending.
The bomber crashed in an uninhabited area, so there were no reports of people on the ground being hurt. The Defence Ministry also said the aircraft was not carrying ammunition when it went down.
Six Crew Members Killed In Crash
The Russian Defence Ministry said the Tu-95 was taking part in a training flight when the crash happened.
“On September 29, a Tu-95 aircraft crashed in the Amur region during a training flight. The aircraft went down in an uninhabited area,” the ministry said, according to state-run TASS news agency.
“According to preliminary data, six crew members died, while one was injured and evacuated to a medical facility,” it added.
The injured crew member was taken to a hospital for treatment. Officials have not yet given a reason for the crash.
Videos Show Fire And Thick Smoke
Unverified videos shared on social media appeared to show flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site.
Some of the videos also appeared to capture loud booming and crackling sounds. However, the videos could not be independently verified.
The Tu-95 is a large long-range bomber developed during the Soviet era. It is capable of carrying nuclear weapons and remains an important aircraft in Russia’s military fleet.
The aircraft is regularly used by Russia for military training and exercises.
Russia Plans Higher Defence Spending
The crash comes as Russia continues to spend heavily on its military during the war in Ukraine.
According to fiscal documents reviewed by Reuters, Russia has planned 17.1 trillion roubles, around $202.58 billion, for defence spending in 2027. This is about 27% higher than the 13.5 trillion roubles initially planned.
At the same time, Russia is expected to reduce spending in some other areas. Social policy spending, which includes pensions, payments to war veterans and maternity benefits, is projected to fall by 7%.
Education spending is expected to drop by 6%, while healthcare spending could fall by 6.8%.
The exact cause of the Tu-95 crash has not yet been announced. Russian authorities are expected to investigate the incident.
