(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Russian strategic Tu-95 bomber has exceeded time for take-off as one of the engines catches fire and crashed in the Far East, the Russian news agency (Tass) said Monday.
"The bomber overran the take-off runway in Russia's Amur Region," Tass quoted Russian Defense Ministry statement as saying.
"The accident occurred during a practice flight at the Ukrainka airfield in the Amur region at 17:00 Moscow time," the statement said, adding "according to preliminary report, engine fire was the cause behind the accident." The ministry also said the crew were injured and taken to hospital, adding the plane was not carrying any weapons and it was on a routine training flight.
Flights of Tu-95 strategic bombers have been suspended, the ministry noted.
The statement added that the commander-in-chief of the Russian air forces has ordered suspension of Tu-95 flights for a reassessment period.
Three Russian military jets have crashed in the past week, including today's accident. The other two are Sukhoi Su-25 and Mig-29.
Russia has been holding round-the-clock training flights amid escalating tension with the West over Ukraine, and the threat of nuclear war missiles dispatch near the Russian borders.
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