3 killed after accidentally ejected from Russian bomber

Three crew members of a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber were killed after being accidentally ejected when the plane was preparing to take off on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

An abnormal activation of the ejection system on the aircraft occurred on the ground at an airfield in the Kaluga region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Due to the insufficient height to deploy the parachutes, the three soldiers who were shot into the air received fatal injuries upon landing.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have sent a commission to the airfield to conduct a technical inspection of the bomber and establish the causes of the accident.