Crew of a supersonic bomber survives crash in Siberia (VIDEOS)

Russian Tu-22M3 aircraft crashed during a routine flight in the Irkutsk region

A Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber of the Russian Air Force has crashed in the Irkutsk region in southeastern Siberia, the Defense Ministry confirmed.

The dramatic incident occurred during a routine flight on Thursday shortly after 10 p.m. local time, when one of the jet's engines caught fire in mid-air, apparently due to a suspected technical malfunction.

The crew managed to steer the crashing aircraft away from residential areas, so there were no civilian casualties or damage on the ground.

Three pilots who were the first to use the ejection seat to escape were rescued alive and “satisfactory” condition, according to local authorities. The captain, who was the last to leave the plane, is said to have broken his leg.

Eyewitness accounts and footage from local residents indicate that the crash occurred in a deserted area. Several videos showed the plane crashing in flames, while others showed several secondary explosions at the crash site.

Rescue workers were finally able to extinguish the fire.

Initial reports suggest that a technical malfunction was probably the cause, as the incident reportedly occurred just minutes after takeoff. However, the Ministry of Defense has not yet launched an investigation.

The Tupolev Tu-22M3 is a modern version of the long-range supersonic bomber with nuclear armament that first entered service in the 1970s. The aircraft involved in the accident was not the latest M3M version with improved avionics and radar; it is unclear whether the aircraft underwent other upgrades or overhauls.