13 dead as Russian warplane crashes near apartment building

A Su-34 bomber was on a training mission Monday when one of its engines caught fire and it plummeted into a residential area of the Russian port city Yeysk, Russian authorities said. The plane’s two crew members bailed out safely. However, the crash and jet fuel fire that ensued at an apartment building was fatal for at least 13, including three children. Nineteen people were hospitalized with injuries, and more than 500 were evacuated.

How often does this happen? Monday’s accident marked the 10th reported non-combat crash of a Russian warplane since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to the Associated Press. Yeysk, which is on the Sea of Azov, has about 90,000 residents and is home to a large Russian air base.

Dig Deeper: Read Evgeny Kosykh’s report on Russians defying conscription for the war.