Russian Air Force Lifts Ban on Tu-95 Bomber Flights

The Russian Air Force has lifted the ban on flights of Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers.

Russia imposed the ban on Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber flights in December after an An-22 Cock transport plane was destroyed in a crash, killing all 12 crew members.

The Russian Air Force decided to ground all Tu-95s and An-22s because both aircraft types share the Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop, whose failure was suspected as the main cause of the crash, reports RIA Novosti.

The Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform, while the An-22 is considered to be the largest turboprop-powered aircraft in the world.