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Frequent crashes prompt Turkey to retire aging RF-4E military jets

Xinhua, March 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkey will decommission its aging RF-4E military jets as of Thursday after three planes consecutively crashed down in two-week time, Turkish Air Force Commander Gen Abidin Unal said Wednesday.

Eight U.S. made RF-4E jets, remained in the Turkish Air Force's inventory, would be terminated after making their final flights on Thursday, Unal said in a news conference at military base in Eskisehir where a press briefing was held to inform about the jets.

More advanced F-16 fighter jets would be used in place of flying reconnaissance missions, he said.

Two RF-4E jets crashed in a training exercise in the eastern province of Malatya on Feb. 24, killing four pilots.

In a second accident, an F-4 fighter jet, modernized version of RF-4, crashed in the central Anatolian province of Konya, leaving two Turkish pilots dead.

Accidents prompted public debate on aging jets which were first purchased in the 1970s. The RF-4E aircraft was expected to remain operational until the end of 2015, but the accidents have changed inventory plans of the military. Endit