On Friday morning, a Tu-22M3 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed in the Stavropol Territory. According to official information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction that arose after completing a combat mission and during the return to the home airfield.

“According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a technical malfunction.”- said in the message.

Video of the Tu-22M3 bomber crash in the Stavropol Territory

Immediately after a critical situation arose, the aircraft crew was forced to eject. Three of the four pilots were successfully evacuated by search teams, but the fate of the fourth crew member remains unknown; Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Emergency services are at the scene of the crash and an investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway.