Russia launches criminal investigation after rocket malfunction causes astronauts to crash land

Russia has launched a criminal investigation into a major space emergency that forced astronauts to crash land.

The incident saw the crew of two abort their journey to the International Space Station and instead take an emergency landing soon after they had set off from Russia's Cosmodrome.

Now Russia's Investigative Committee has said it has launched a criminal investigation to find out the cause of the problem, suggesting that it might have been a problem with safety procedures not being followed.

Investigators would look into whether a crime had been committed under a law that prohibits "violation of safety regulations for construction work, causing major damage", the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The investigation will attempt to find the "causes of the incident" as well as the people who were responsible for it happening, it said.

An investigative team has already been set up and is inspecting the launch complex, as well as looking through documentation around the crash.

Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a tweet after the accident that there will be "thorough investigation into the cause of the incident", which is presumably separate. Russian space agency boss Dmitry Rogozin also said that an investigation was being launched.

It comes shortly after the crew on board the International Space Station found a mysterious hole drilled into the side of another Soyuz capsule, which had carried them to the floating laboratory. An investigation into that separate incident is ongoing.