A terrifying video has emerged of the fatal crash of Russian Tupolev TU-22M3 military jet bomber, which exploded while attempting to land during a heavy blizzard. The nuclear-capable bomber, also known as a ‘Backfire’, was carrying out a training exercise on January 22 before crashing in Murmansk, north of the Arctic circle, due to low visibility. Two of the crew died immediately and two others were taken to hospital, where one later died. The Russian Ministry defence insisted the jet was not armed at the time of the crash.
A video, taken at Olenya air base above the Arctic Circle, shows the military jet erupting into a fireball as it hits the ground, with black plumes of smoke coming from the aircraft.
Heavy fog can be seen covering the area during the incident.
Family members have paid emotional tributes to captain Major Alexey Guryev and the two others who died in the crash, co-pilot Konstantin Mazunin and navigator Viktor Greyf.
Mr Greyf’s son wrote on social media: “You are my hero!
“You are the very best!”
The bomber jet was landing when it bounced on the runway, splitting the aircraft in half.
An official accident report leaked two days after the crash, saying: “The crew did not respond the commands of flight management team.
“The fuselage burned down.”
The Tupolev TU-22M3 is developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau and was operated by the Soviet Air Forces during the Cold War.
As reported by RIA Novosti news agency, aviation expert Vadim Lukashevich said the crash was likely caused by a vertical wind gust that hit the plane before landing.
The exact site of the crash was at Olenya air base, near Olenegrosk on the Kola Peninsula, approximately 57 miles south of Murmansk city.
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated: “A Tu-22M3 bomber crash landed in a blizzard after a routine training flight”, according to TASS.