Russian Bomber Unit Suffers Accidental Ground Ejection, Injuring Two Crew

Two crew members have been seriously injured following an accidental activation of an ejection system at a Russian bomber unit on December 7, 2025. According to reports from the Fighterbomber Telegram channel, affiliated with the Russian Air Force, the ejection system of a military aircraft sheltered on the ground fired unexpectedly while both the pilot and navigator were inside the aircraft. Both crew members sustained life-threatening injuries from the incident.

While Russian authorities have not publicly identified the specific aircraft type involved, preliminary analysis suggests the aircraft was likely a two-seat tactical bomber operated by the regiment. The presence of only a pilot and navigator points to either the Sukhoi Su-24 or the newer Su-34, both equipped with individual ejection seats for each crew member. Larger bombers such as the Tu-22M3 or Tu-160 typically carry four-person crews, making them less probable candidates.

A state commission has been dispatched to the incident site and is conducting an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accidental activation. Preliminary findings will be critical in understanding whether the incident resulted from maintenance procedures, equipment malfunction, or procedural failure.

Ground-level ejections present catastrophic risks that extend far beyond normal operational parameters. Ejection seats are engineered specifically for in-flight emergencies at altitude, relying on explosive charges and rocket propulsion to achieve rapid separation from the aircraft. When activated at ground level or zero altitude, these systems cannot function as designed—parachute deployment may be incomplete, altitude is insufficient for proper chute inflation, and the extreme forces involved can cause severe trauma or fatality.

This incident echoes a fatal 2021 accident involving a Tu-22M3 bomber, when an unintended ground ejection during pre-flight preparations killed three crew members after the seats fired sequentially. The dangers of ground-level seat activation are not unique to Russian aviation operations. In November 2024, a rear-seat occupant was unintentionally ejected from a US Air National Guard F-15D Eagle during ground maintenance in Massachusetts, surviving the incident but demonstrating the inherent hazards present even in allied air forces.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges in ejection system safety protocols and the critical importance of maintenance procedures, equipment verification, and crew training to prevent accidental activation. As investigations continue, the findings will likely influence safety procedures across military aviation operations worldwide.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1765198036000-1236