Two Russian drunk pilots have been killed after being ejected from their aircraft as it sat in a hangar – sending them hurtling into a concrete roof.
Russian media reported that the aircraft was stationary and the system was “suddenly triggered.”
In a similar accident in 2021 on a Tu-22M3 bomber near Kaluga, a drunk pilot ejected his seat killing three personnel on the ground. Most such accidents are associated with system failures or human error.
Intense combat stress, fear, and trauma often lead Russian soldiers to use alcohol for coping, lowering inhibitions and boosting confidence, a phenomenon seen in Russian servicemen.
Alcohol consumption among Russian servicemen reflects broader Russian societal issues with heavy drinking, intensified by military stress, leading to high rates of alcoholism, especially during the Ukraine war, with vodka being a major factor in male mortality and low life expectancy, though not always directly linked to combat PTSD.
The unnamed pilot and the navigator reportedly “sustained injuries incompatible with life”. It is unclear at which Russian base the alleged incident took place, nor is it clear what type of bomber was involved.
It was first reported by Russian propagandist Telegram channel Fighterbomber on 8 December.
“Yesterday, in one of the bomber aviation regiments, an ejection system was triggered on an aircraft standing in a shelter,” the channel wrote.
According to the outlet, a state commission is currently investigating how the incident took place. Ukraine‘s Air Force spokesperson, Yurii Ihnat, used this as an opportunity to take a dig at Russia.
Reacting sarcastically to news of the incident on Facebook, he wrote: “I really hope the explosive charges in both ejection seats, which slammed into the reinforced concrete ceiling, caused a ‘small fire onboard’ – or at least triggered some other consequences ‘incompatible’ with further aircraft operation.”
Russian bombers use ejection seats designed to save a crew member’s life if the aircraft is lost. When the pilot pulls the handle, the canopy is blown off and a small charge pushes the seat upward.
A rocket motor then fires to carry the seat safely away from the aircraft. A small stabilising chute opens first, followed by the main parachute.
They can function at zero height and zero speed, and they can work at very high speeds, up to 800mph.
However, mechanical faults, poor maintenance, or damage from combat can interfere with the seat’s normal operation. This is the latest in a long line of blunders by Russian forces.
In October, a Russian missile blew up an apartment block inside their own territory in a friendly fire blunder. The rocket was meant to intercept an incoming Ukrainian drone attack, but instead collided with a residential building.
Again, this is not the first time Russia has bombed its own cities. In 2024, a bomb was also dropped on the rural locality of Soloti – about 40 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Five people were injured in the blast that damaged tens of homes and vehicles. Back in 2023, a Russian Su-34 fighter accidentally dropped a bomb, causing a 70-foot crater.
Two women were wounded in the blast, with one being rushed to hospital with head wounds.
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