1 pilot dead, 1 missing after plane crash in southwestern Russia

MOSCOW

A pilot died in Russia Friday, while another is missing and two hospitalized after the crash of a military plane in the country's southwestern region of Stavropol, its governor said on Friday.

"Updated data on the incident with a Russian military aircraft in the Krasnogvardeysky district has been received. Unfortunately, the third crew member was killed. I express my condolences to his family and friends. The search for the fourth pilot continues," Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram.

All four pilots had ejected before impact as the aircraft crashed into a field, with two of them found alive and hospitalized and the body of a third later also recovered, Vladimirov said.

Rescue efforts are underway to find the remaining pilot, he said.

The governor noted that information on the incident is in the process of being clarified, urging against relying on "unverified sources."

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force released a statement claiming that the country's air defenses had shot down the Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time.

Earlier on Friday, multiple media reports claimed that the bomber crashed in the Stavropol region due to a malfunction.