A Russian bomber pilot and navigator were killed after an ejection system activated while the aircraft was on the ground, according to military blogger Ilya Tumanov, as authorities launched an investigation into the incident.
Two Russian military airmen were killed after an ejection system unexpectedly activated while their aircraft was parked inside a protective shelter, according to Russian defense blogger Ilya Tumanov, founder of the “Fighterbomber” Telegram channel.
“Yesterday, in one of the bomber aviation regiments, an ejection system was triggered on an aircraft stationed in a shelter,” Tumanov wrote. “The pilot and navigator sustained injuries that were incompatible with life.”
Tumanov did not disclose the location of the incident or identify the aircraft involved, but said a government-appointed commission has been dispatched to the site to conduct an investigation.
The incident is not unprecedented for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). In 2021, three personnel were killed at a military airfield near Kaluga after the ejection system of a Tu-22M3 bomber activated while the aircraft was on the ground. That same year, a Su-30SM fighter jet experienced an unintended ejection during pre-takeoff preparations at an airbase in Russian-occupied Crimea. Although both aircrew members survived, a ground technician was injured by the blast.
While such incidents are rare in Western air forces, Russian military aviation has previously recorded similar accidents, often attributed to aging aircraft, technical malfunctions, or procedural errors.
As of Monday morning, Russian authorities have not officially confirmed the latest incident, and the Ministry of Defense has not issued a public statement.
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