Thai F-16 jet fighter crashlands, pilot killed
Xinhua, February 20, 2015 Adjust font size:
A Thai air force F-16 fighter crashlanded, killing the pilot, in Lopburi province on Friday.
The F-16A Fighting Falcon pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Nopanond Nivasanond, had just finished an air-to- surface attack exercise and was returning to base in Nakorn Ratchasima province when the incident occurred, according to air force spokesperson ACM Monton Satchukorn.
The United States-made jet fighter caught fire as it crashlanded onto a tapioca field in Koksamrong district of the northeastern province, about 150 kilometers north of the Thai capital.
The authorities have inspected the wreckage of the fallen jet and are yet to find out the cause of the fatal mishap, ACM Monton said.
An air force command for tactical air exercises is about four kilometers from the crash site. Villagers were kept out of the area where air force personnel thoroughly inspected and collected pieces of the aircraft's wreckage scattered in all directions.
The deceased pilot and his jet fighter belonged to the Wing 1 air base, the country's biggest.
In one last incident of its kind four years ago, two of the Thai air force's F-16 jet fighters crashlanded during a combat exercise in Chaiyapum province four years ago, with both pilots managing to jettison to safety. Endi