Probe launched into Flamingo Air emergency landing
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding an emergency plane crash landing that occurred in The Bahamas, last week.
According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), a Flamingo Air commercial charter aircraft, with registration # C6FLR, was ferrying nine passengers when it crash-landed at Black Point, Exuma at 4 pm on August 24.
There were no injuries.
Source- Loop Caribbean News
Airlines warn of UK flight delays over air traffic control fault
Thousands of air passengers have been suffering long delays and cancellations after a "technical issue" hit UK air traffic control systems.
Holidaymakers are stuck all over the UK and abroad after National Air Traffic Services (Nats) reduced traffic flow.
Airlines and airports warned there were still "significant delays" despite the issue having later been fixed.
One passenger told BBC News he could be waiting until the early hours for his delayed flight to return to the UK.
Nats confirmed the fault just after midday on Monday before it announced at 15:15 BST that it had identified and remedied the issue that was affecting UK airspace.
Several airports across the UK, and airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and TUI, warned passengers of delays and cancellations.
British Airways said the air traffic control issue had caused "significant and unavoidable delays and cancellations" and apologised for the huge inconvenience caused.
It has advised customers on short-haul services not to travel to the airport without checking their flight is still running.
The airline added customers due to travel on Monday and Tuesday may be able to move their flights free of charge to a later date.
Ryanair said it had been forced to delay or cancel a number of flights, and Jet2 said all its flights to and from the UK were expected to experience significant delays.
It said it had cancelled some outbound flights on Monday and was reviewing Tuesday's schedule - but said passengers for Tuesday's flights should travel to the airport as usual unless they were advised otherwise.
Alastair Rosenschein, a former British Airways pilot and now an aviation consultant, called the disruption "huge" - and said the equivalent for cars would be if every road was closed in the country.
Chris Wroe told BBC News he and his family were waiting at an airport in the Netherlands for his delayed British Airways flight back to London.
"On the app, it's saying departure at 2 am tomorrow," the father, who is travelling with a one-year-old, said. "Staff at check-in just said it's an indefinite delay."
Cricket journalist Rory Dollard said he and his family faced being stuck in France for up to six days after his Ryanair flight was cancelled.
The father, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, is stuck at an airport in Bergerac with his wife and children, aged 10 and eight.
He said: "I've never been in a situation like this before and because of the language barrier, it's hard to work out exactly who's responsible for which part of the cost.
"If you need to find a hotel for the next five/six nights, who's paying for this? Is it Ryanair? Is it your insurer? Is it somebody else?"
Cirium, an aviation data firm, said 3,049 flights would have been due to depart from UK airports on Monday, and a further 3,054 flights scheduled to arrive.
As of 14:30 BST, its data showed that 232 departing fights had been cancelled, which it said was equivalent to 8% of all departures, and 271, or 9%, of incoming flights.
Travel journalist Simon Calder told BBC News that Bank Holiday Monday is one of the busiest days of the year, as many people return from long weekend trips abroad - pointing out that the UK's Heathrow Airport is the busiest two-runway airport in the world. At the same time, Gatwick is the world's busiest single-runway airport.
Ryanair said it had been "forced to delay/cancel a number of flights", while Wizz Air also warned of "heavy delays and possible cancellations".
Manchester, Heathrow and Stansted Airports in updated statements said the earlier air traffic control issue was still causing disruption.
They have advised passengers to check the status of their flight before coming to the airport.
Earlier spokespeople for London Luton and Gatwick airports all said they were experiencing issues, and urged customers to contact their airlines.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper advised "passengers should contact their airline for up-to-date flight information" and said he would encourage passengers to read the UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance to be aware of their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled.
The Liberal Democrats had called on the prime minister to convene the emergency response committee Cobra, while Labour said the incident was "extremely concerning".
Nats said the issue was a "flight planning issue" that had affected the system's ability to automatically process flight plans, "meaning that flight plans had to be processed manually which cannot be done at the same volume, hence the requirement for traffic flow restrictions".
Graham Lake, an aviation strategy consultant, told BBC Radio 4 PM: "What we have is a system failure that's caused a revert to a manual system [that] has a much lower capacity for processing aircraft, and so the only way you can keep it safe is to stop aircraft taking off.
"You can't stop the ones that are already airborne, but you stop the ones still on the ground until you've identified and remedied the fault."
He explained the Nat's technical fault was "extremely rare", with the last one being in 2014 attracting an independent inquiry into the cause of the failure.
Source- BBC
FortisTCI hosts third annual Youth Energy Roundtable
FortisTCI hosted its third annual Youth Energy Roundtable on Thursday, August 17, 2023, showcasing the brilliance and critical thinking skills of seven college and university students enrolled in the company's Student Summer Employment Program (SSEP).
The event marked another milestone in FortisTCI's unwavering commitment to empowering the youth to participate in discussions about the future of energy and championing innovative thinking within the energy sector.
This year's roundtable was held at the Company's headquarters in Providenciales under the theme, "Youth as Change Agents." The seven student panelists presented well-researched findings and eloquently articulated perspectives on topics related to the energy transition.
In the first segment of the program, student panelists Evadne Gardiner, Abi-Gaye Miller, Giovanni Astwood, and Jonathan Robinson led the conversation on 'The Energy Workforce of the Future,' with insightful support from FortisTCI energy experts. The company's Senior Vice President of Operations, Devon Cox, Director of People and Culture, Environment, Health, and Safety, Marcus Francis, Vice President of Finance, Corporate Services, and CFO, Aisha Laporte, and Manager of Learning and Development, Robyn Forbes served on the panel discussions. The topics focused on 'Future-proof skills for the Energy Sector' and also highlighted the importance of generational diversity within the industry.
The second segment featured SSEP panelists Danielle Worgs, Avri Forbes, and Saphina Blaise, whose contributions delved into sustainable solutions to modernize the grid,' with a particular focus on 'Battery Energy Storage Technology,' and 'The Role of Youth in a Just Energy Transition'. These student panelists shared the stage with FortisTCI Vice President of Innovation, Technology, and Strategic Planning, Rachell Roullet, Manager of Engineering and Substation Operations Maintenance, Hortnel Johnson, Director of Legal Services, Compliance and Assistant Company Secretary, Alexandria Missick, and Director of Energy Production, Alvejes Desir.
Her Excellency, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, was also in attendance, along with Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, Hon. E. Jay Saunders, and Minister of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, Hon. Otis Morris. Commenting on the students' performance at the event, Hon. Morris stated: "The future of Turks and Caicos is surely bright. It is refreshing to see so many young students showcasing their talent and capability to be part of the energy conversation. These students are indeed change agents, and we look forward to the change they will bring about for the sustainable energy future of the TCI for generations to come." Hon. Morris also commended FortisTCI for investing in the country's youth and providing them with opportunities through the FortisTCI SSEP program and the roundtable event.
FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes reinforced the purpose of the event, which was developed in 2021 as a capstone project to enhance the Company's summer employment program and get students involved in discussions about the future of energy in the TCI. During her remarks, she stated: "We believe in the value these young people bring to the table. We know they are keen to make meaningful contributions, with the right opportunities. We believe in their capacity to challenge the status quo, speak up, and stand out when it matters. We believe in their power to effect change. We believe that the time is always right to do right by our youth and give them the opportunities to shine. That is what the roundtable is about."
The third annual Youth Energy Roundtable builds upon the success of previous years and reaffirms FortisTCI's reputation as a leader in nurturing innovation, empowerment, and collaboration with the youth.
Elton John treated in hospital after falling at home in France
Sir Elton John was taken to hospital after suffering a fall at his house in France.
The star, 76, was kept in hospital overnight and was discharged on Monday.
A statement from his representative said: "We can confirm that following a slip yesterday at his home in the south of France, Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure.
"Following check-ups, he was immediately discharged this morning and is now back at home and in good health."
Along with his husband David Furnish and their two children, Sir Elton has been in France following the end of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in July.
He was seen on 22 August enjoying a day on his luxurious superyacht, accompanied by a gathering of A-list friends in St Tropez, south of France.
Sir Elton was also spotted having dinner with Kevin Spacey in Nice after the actor was cleared of sex attacks on four men.
The British singer-songwriter has said he might make more music but has chosen to stop doing tours so that he can spend more time with his family.
"Touring is exhausting for me now, and it takes me away from my family and my children," he said, referring to Furnish and their two sons Zachary, 12, and Elijah, 10.
But Sir Elton did also suggest he won't be quitting live performances for good - promising fans that "there may be the odd show" still to come.
Source- Sky News
Train strike to hit major events such as Notting Hill Carnival and Reading and Leeds festivals
Rail services across England will be crippled today because of another strike in the deadlocked dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Around 20,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at 14 train operators are expected to join the walkout.
Trains will start later on Saturday and finish earlier and some areas will have no services, disrupting those traveling to events such as the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Reading and Leeds Festivals.
The latest stoppage in the row, now in its second year, comes as no progress has been made with rail operators, which the union says are "hamstrung" by the government refusing to give them a mandate to make a revised pay offer.
The RMT is also planning a strike on 2 September, while members of the drivers' union ASLEF are taking strike action on 1 September, threatening serious disruption.
The rail unions are also involved in a dispute over controversial plans to close railway ticket offices, which has also angered passenger groups and those representing elderly and disabled passengers.
More than 460,000 people have responded to a consultation on the plans and a protest is being held opposite Downing Street on 31 August, a day before the consultation ends.
Government 'not serious about settling dispute'
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The government is not serious about settling this dispute which is leading to further disruption for passengers.
"Rail operators are not being given a mandate to make a new offer that we can put to members in a referendum to settle this dispute."
Some train firms have advised people to travel on Saturday only if necessary.
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "The industry will be working hard to keep as many services running as possible.
"There is no question the strikes called by the RMT and ASLEF leaderships are deliberately designed to target passengers who want to enjoy various sporting events and festivals during the bank holiday, and at the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans, hurting local economies and forcing more cars on to the road."
Full list of train companies affected by the strike:
Avanti West Coast - It plans to run four trains per hour to and from London Euston with one to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Preston respectively.
There will be no service to and from North Wales, Shrewsbury, Blackpool North, Stoke-on-Trent, and Edinburgh.
c2c - The company says services will not be massively impacted but urges customers to check before traveling.
Chiltern Railways - A limited timetable will operate with one train per hour between London Marylebone and Banbury, Oxford and Aylesbury respectively. No services will operate north of Banbury and no trains will call at Wembley Stadium, Northolt Park, South Ruislip, Warwick, Warwick Parkway, Hatton, or Lapworth all day.
CrossCountry - First trains will run later and terminate earlier than usual with no service between Nottingham and Cardiff Central via Birmingham New Street.
East Midlands Railway - Largely one train per hour between destinations, including between Nottingham and Sheffield to London St Pancras.
Gatwick Express - The usual non-stop service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, and Brighton will not operate.
Great Northern - A limited service across the network, with later starts and earlier finishes, while some stations won't have any services all day.
Great Western Railway - Very limited services to and from destinations, with journeys to be completed by 6.30 p.m.
Greater Anglia - Most routes will have a near regular service, with selected routes affected.
Heathrow Express - It will operate a normal service until around 8.40 pm.
London Northwestern Railway - A limited service will operate between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
LNER - Trains will run but with a reduced timetable to key stations.
Northern - A very limited train service between 8 am and 5 pm from Liverpool to Manchester Airport, Leeds to multiple destinations, and from Darlington to Saltburn.
South Western Railway - Large parts of the network will be closed and trains will run only between 7 am and 7 pm.
Southeastern - No services to London Bridge but this is because of planned engineering work.
Southern - A limited service across the network, with later starts and earlier finishes, while some stations won't have any services all day.
Stansted Express - Most routes will have a near-normal service, with selected routes impacted.
Thameslink - A limited service across the network, with later starts and earlier finishes, while some stations won't have any services all day.
TransPennine Express - A heavily reduced service will operate between Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough, Preston to Manchester Airport, and Sheffield to Cleethorpes.
West Midlands Railway - A limited service will operate selected routes, between 7 am and 7 pm.
RMT 'cynically targeting bank holiday weekend'
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The government has played its part to try and end these disputes by facilitating fair and reasonable pay offers, but union leaders refuse to allow their members to vote on them.
"By cynically targeting the bank holiday weekend, and driving more passengers away from train travel when our railways are already losing £10m a day even without industrial action, the RMT's strikes are damaging its own industry's future."
Source- Sky News
Prosecutors open inquiries into whether Spanish FA boss's World Cup kiss was sexual harassment
Prosecutors have opened inquiries into the kiss by Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales, whose mother has gone on hunger strike over the treatment of her son.
Spanish prosecutors announced on Monday they believe the facts of the case may constitute an offence of sexual harassment.
There has been widespread criticism of Mr. Rubiales, 46, after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's Women's World Cup final win.
The prosecutors said Hermoso now has 15 days to formalise the complaint.
The prosecutor's office said: "It was agreed to approach Jenni Hermoso so as to inform her of her rights as a possible victim of the offence of sexual harassment... and to offer her the opportunity should she wish within the next 15 days to file a complaint with the Prosecutors Office of the Spanish High Court."
The prosecutor's office said it opened pre-trial enquiries because of "public statements made by Jenni Hermoso that the sexual act she experienced and was carried out by Mr Rubiales was non-consensual".
Hermoso has said that in "no moment" did she consent to the kiss.
FIFA suspended Mr. Rubiales on Saturday.
In response, the Spanish football federation boss said he would defend himself after his suspension.
A statement released by the Spanish Football Association said: "Luis Rubiales has stated that he will legally defend himself in the competent bodies, he fully trusts FIFA and reiterates that, in this way, he is given the opportunity to begin his defence so that the truth prevails."
He has remained defiant in the face of mounting criticism, saying he's the subject of a "witch hunt" by "false feminists".
Rubiales' mother 'on hunger strike'
Amid the controversy, Mr Rubiales' mother reportedly locked herself in a church on Monday and is going on a hunger strike over the "inhuman and bloody hunt" against her son.
Angeles Bejar told news outlet EFE that she will remain in the Divina Pastora church in the southern Spanish town of Motril "indefinitely, day and night" until the situation is resolved.
She said the "hunt" against her son is "something he does not deserve".
Mr Rubiales' mother has requested that Hermoso "tell the truth" and "maintain the version she had at the beginning of the events".
Ms Bejar also told EFE her son "is incapable of harming anyone" and claimed there was "consent on both sides".
Victor Francos, of the Spanish Sports Council, said at a news conference on Monday: "That is what a mother does for her son. I don't think there is any doubt about that."
He added that he "simply can't imagine" a mother who "does not defend her son".
'Urgent meeting' called
Following days of criticism and calls for Mr Rubiales to quit following the Women's World Cup final, the Spanish football federation called an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting into the situation.
Mr Rubiales was widely expected to resign at a meeting on Friday but instead made a defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt by "false feminists" and insisting the kiss with Hermoso was consensual.
The federation's interim president Pedro Rocha has called the meeting in Madrid on Monday "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself" and look at "the decisions or actions to be taken," a spokesman said on Sunday.
An internal investigation is also underway after the federation's sexual violence protocol was activated.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol's protection delegate who is conducting the investigation, said in a statement "We demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of every person involved".
Source- Sky News
How robotaxis are dividing San Francisco
My heartbeat quickens just a little as the cab approaches. It's a bizarre sight, one that I thought I wouldn't see in my lifetime.
The cab has no driver. It stops in front of me and invites me to unlock its door with my phone - before whisking me into the night.
But as I am about to get in, a passer-by approaches.
"They're unsafe," he tells me. He says he saw someone nearly get run over by a robotaxi - and warns me to be careful.
He represents a faction in San Francisco that doesn't like robotaxis - and believes the city has agreed to a dangerous experiment, which is putting lives at risk.
And some have gone a step further. Over the summer a campaign group has begun to disable the cars, by putting cones on their bonnets.
Safe Street Rebel describes what it does as "coning" and some of its videos have gone viral. But city officials are committed to allowing them to operate on their streets - for now.
On 10 August 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to allow two cab companies - Waymo and Cruise - to run a 24-hour service. Previously, they'd only been allowed to operate paid rides at night.
But before that vote, officials listened to six hours of public comment - a conveyor belt of people voicing their hopes and concerns.
There were Uber and Lyft drivers worried that robotaxis would take away their livelihoods: "If you allow self-driving taxis to expand, it's going to take jobs away from families. I'm a single mum," said Rosine, an Uber driver in the city.
Representatives of garbage disposal trucks said the cars often broke down and blocked their vehicles. San Francisco's fire service has criticized the cars for the same reason - claiming to have been obstructed 55 times this year.
Others believe the technology simply hasn't proved itself to be safe yet. Matthew Sutter, a cab driver in San Francisco, said: "I'm all about technology, but it's not ready guys... this is a danger to the citizens of San Francisco."
There were others representing physically disabled people who wondered how they would be able to get into cabs without help from a driver. Mara Math, a member of the Paratransit Coordinating Council, said the embrace of robot axis would "leave disabled San Franciscans out in the cold".
But then there were its supporters. George Janku, an orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco and keen cyclist, said: "I see how these cars behave, and I trust them much more than angry drivers or distracted drivers." He added that he had worked on many serious injuries involving human drivers - and that robotaxis appear to be safer.
Jessie Wolinsky, who is blind, said she had been harassed by Uber and Lyft drivers. Waymo cars had "provided me with a level of safety that I've never experienced before".
There was also a mother who said taxi drivers had rejected her when they saw her children's car seats - something a driverless car would never do.
I have seen both sides of the argument. I have used Cruise's robotaxis several times over the last few months, without any accidents. At the same time, I have also been in a robotaxi that has broken down in the middle of the street.
Unsure how to handle a tight right-hand turn, it simply stopped. Cars behind me beeped and then finally mounted the curb to get around us. I could understand their frustration.
Just eight days after the vote to allow companies to expand the use of robotaxis, a Cruise taxi was involved in an accident with a fire engine.
The state department of Motor Vehicles requested that Cruise halve the number of vehicles on the roads - something it has agreed to.
The city's Attorney, David Chiu, asked the CPUC to halt its decision: "San Francisco will suffer serious harms from this unfettered expansion," he said.
And yet Cruise and Waymo are insistent that their robotaxis are safe.
Waymo told the BBC the company had clocked more than two million miles of fully autonomous driving. It says it has not had a single accident with a pedestrian or cyclist.
Waymo also says that every vehicle-to-vehicle collision it has been involved in is when other drivers break the rules or drive dangerously.
Cruise told the BBC it had completed three million driverless miles and had a strong safety record.
Many San Franciscans remain unconvinced though. In a quiet city park, I met one of the ringleaders of Safe Street Rebel - who wishes to be anonymous.
They tell me that coming may be one of the first physical protests against artificial intelligence - and that these kinds of human actions are going to become more and more common.
They're frustrated that people's concerns about robotaxis in San Francisco are not being listened to: "We're definitely not vigilantes. We're just the community self-organizing to make ourselves heard."
I asked them whether they were the 21st-century equivalent of a Luddite - a group that was vehemently opposed to technological changes in the early 19th Century.
"Yeah, I think there are parallels here. And I think the Luddites get treated unfairly throughout history."
San Francisco is in a strange place. It wants to be the spearhead of innovation. City officials have not taken many residents with them.
It now feels like the city has reached a crossroads. The car companies themselves insist the vehicles are safe. But if they can't convince San Franciscans of that, they will have a fight on their hands to remain on the city's streets.
Source- BBC
ALERT #16 ON TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN
Alert #16 on Tropical Storm Franklin was issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, on Wednesday 23rd August, 2023, at 6 am EDT.
Franklin is near the south coast of the Dominican Republic with heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash flooding.
A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions could be experienced within the Turks and Caicos Islands within 36 hours.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 17.4 degrees north and longitude 71.3 degrees west, or about 280 miles south of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tropical Storm Franklin is moving toward the north near 10 miles per hour. The system should turn northward today, and a north-northeastward motion is expected for the next day or so, followed by a turn toward the northeast and east-northeast on Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is forecast to cross the island of Hispaniola today and emerge over the southwestern Atlantic waters later today or tonight.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. Some weakening is likely today while Franklin moves over Hispaniola, followed by re-strengthening beginning on Thursday after the center moves over the Atlantic.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.
Residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands should continue making preparations for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning late Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 4.
Alert #5 on Tropical Storm Franklin 9pm Monday 21st August 2023
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions could be experienced within the Turks and Caicos Islands within 48 hours.
At 8 pm EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 14.3 degrees north and longitude 70.1 degrees west, or about 290 miles south of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 500 miles south-southeast of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks, and Caicos Islands, 515 miles south-southeast of Matthew Town, Inagua and 870 miles Southeast of New Providence.
Tropical Storm Franklin has been meandering in the eastern Caribbean tonight, becoming nearly stationary. Franklin should turn northward on Tuesday with this general motion continuing into Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is forecast to reach the southern coast of Hispaniola by early on Wednesday. Due to the slowing down of Franklin today, the center is now forecast to pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast before Franklin reaches Hispaniola.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.
Residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands should begin to make preparation for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning on Wednesday night. Residents in the Southeast Bahamas should closely monitor Alerts issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and be ready to make preparation for possible Tropical Storm conditions in the next few days.
Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 4 inches over the most easterly islands.
The next Alert on Tropical Storm Franklin will be issued at 12 am EDT Tuesday.
Ukrainian drone destroys Russian supersonic bomber
A flagship Russian long-range bomber has been destroyed in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to reports.
Images posted on social media and analyzed by BBC Verify show a Tupolev Tu-22 on fire at Soltsy-2 airbase, south of St Petersburg.
Moscow said that a drone was hit by small-arms fire but managed to "damage" a plane. Ukraine has not commented.
The Tu-22 can travel at twice the speed of sound and has been used extensively by Russia to attack cities in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement that a "copter-type UAV" attack occurred around 10:00 Moscow time (08:00 BST) on Saturday.
It stated the location as "a military airfield in the Novgorod region", where Soltsy-2 is situated.
"The UAV was detected by the airfield's observation outpost and was hit with small-arms fire," the ministry said.
"One airplane was damaged; there were no casualties due to the terrorist act."
The statement also said a fire that broke out in the airfield parking lot was quickly extinguished.
However, images posted on the social media platform Telegram showed a large fire engulfing a jet with the distinctive nose cone of the Tu-22. BBC Verify analyzed the photos and believes them to be credible.
While the destruction of a single aircraft will have little effect on the potency of Moscow's current 60-strong fleet, the operation highlights Kyiv's growing ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Kyiv has over recent months launched dozens of fixed-wing unmanned aircraft to attack Moscow, a journey of several hundred miles. Soltsy-2 is around 400 miles (650km) from the Ukraine border.
However, the Russian MoD's description of the drone as a "copter-type UAV" suggests a cheap, commercially available device launched at short range.
The Tu-22 is a Cold War-era, swing-wing supersonic bomber, codenamed "Backfire" by Nato, which has been used extensively in attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Modern versions such as the Tu-22M3 can reach speeds of Mach 2 (2,300km/h or 1,430mp/h) and can carry up to 24,000kg of weapons, including "dumb bombs" and homing missiles.
They have been used in conflicts in Syria, Chechnya, Georgia, and most recently Ukraine.
According to prosecutors in Kyiv, 30 people were killed when a Tu-22-launched missile hit a block of flats in Dnipro in January.
They said Russia's 52nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment carried out the attack. The regiment is based at Soltsy-2.
BBC Verify confirmed the location of the Ukrainian drone attack on Soltsy-2 by comparing visual clues - such as the appearance of aircraft and bays - to historical satellite images of the airbase.
The weather conditions at the time - wet and overcast - also matched the weather in the images, as well as other witness photos of the incident.
The remnants of the aircraft visible in the footage are consistent with that of a Tu-22M3.
Historical satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify shows that aircraft of this kind were stationed at the base.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Ukraine's defense intelligence service said another military aircraft had been damaged in a drone attack in Russia's Kaluga region.
Russian media also reported the attack but denied there had been any damage.
Source- BBC