A Tu-95 strategic bomber has crashed during training flight 80km from the city of Khabarovsk, eastern Russia, the Defense Ministry said.

“The flight was being conducted without ammunition. The plane fell in deserted area, there is no destruction on the ground,” says a statement from the ministry. The crew ejected from the aircraft before the crash, it added.

The incident happened near the aviation ground of Litovka, 60km from Khabarovsk, a source told TASS, adding that the suspected cause of the incident is the failure of three power units.

An-12 transport aircraft and an Mi-8 transport helicopter have been deployed to recover the crew, a source told TASS.

The Russian long-range ‘Bear’ (Tu-95) is a large, four-engine strategic bomber. It entered into service back in 1956 in the Soviet Union and is expected to fly with Russian Air Force until at least 2040. It is capable of carrying up to 12,000kg of missiles, including a nuclear payload.