MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Thursday crash of a TU- 160 Blackjack strategic bomber in the Saratov region has been the first since this aircraft was commissioned in 1987, the Russian Defense Ministry's flight safety department told Interfax on Thursday.
Russia had 15 such aircraft in 2003, a source with the department said.
The source cited statistics of air disasters and other incidents in the Russian Air Force over the past three years.
"Since 2001, the Air Force has seen 16 air incidents and 10 disasters, in which 33 people have died and 26 aircraft have been lost," the source said.
The year 2001 saw two disasters and five accidents, in which nine people were killed and seven planes were lost, particularly, two L-39s, an AN-12 Cub, an MIG-29 Fulcrum, an MIG-31 Foxhound, an SU-24 Fencer and an SU-27 Flanker.
In addition, two SU-25 Frogfoot attack planes and an SU-24 frontline bomber were destroyed in missions in the North Caucasus. Two pilots were killed in these incidents.
In 2002, the Russian Air Force saw two disasters and four accidents, in which three people were killed and six aircraft lost, particularly, three L-39s, an AN-12, an SU-24 and an SU-27. In addition, an MI-8 Hip helicopter and an SU-25 plane were destroyed in the North Caucasus, killing eight people.
This year, there have been one catastrophe, two accidents and five emergency situations and 11 people have died. Three MI- 24 Hind and two MI-8 helicopters, an MIG-29, a MIG-25 Foxbat and an L-39 planes were lost.