Russian Pilot Loses Life but Saves a Town
A Russian air force pilot was killed Friday after maneuvering his burning TU-22 supersonic bomber away from the Belarussian town of Gomel, saving many lives, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The twin-jet bomber, on a training mission, caught fire after taking off from Zyabrovka military airfield near Gomel, the ministry said.
The pilot, Lt. Col. Victor Oskin, ordered two other crew members to leave the plane, and they ejected successfully. Oskin stayed with the bomber until he managed to steer it away from Gomel.
Oskin then ejected from the plane, but by that time it was too late, and he was killed, the ministry said.
“Russia has lost another real pilot, another real officer,” said its statement, carried by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass.
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