Belgian fighter jet crashes into building after pilot loses control on runway
F16 jet crashes into a building after pilot loses control on runway and ejects during take-off in Holland
- Fighter jet lost control on take-off and smashed into nearby building
- The pilot was forced to eject to avoid crashing – his condition is still unknown
- One other person who was in the building was taken to hospital
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The plane was taking part in an international exercise at Leeuwarden air base
A Belgian fighter jet has collided with a building at a Dutch airbase in Leeuwarden injuring two people.
The incident happened at the start of the mission in which the F-16 jet was preparing for take-off when the the plane ‘ran wild’, forcing the pilot to eject.
The plane careered down the runway and out of control, before slamming into a building at the airbase.
The reason for the crash is unclear and is still being investigated.
The F-16 is one of the most widely-used fighter aircraft in the world and is capable of reaching speeds over Mach 2
The plane was taking part in an international exercise at Leeuwarden military base which is used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).
The F-16 was due to take off from the Leeuwarden military base and fly around 120 miles south to a new location at Volkel airbase.
There was no fire or explosion following the incident at Leeuwarden military airbase the Dutch Air Force said.
The pilot managed to eject before the crash, but has been taken to hospital in Leeuwarden along with one other individual who was in the building when the plane slammed into it.
The incident is set to be investigated by the Dutch Safety Board according to a statement made by the council.
(File image) The F-16 fighter had an incident during take-off which forced the pilot to eject before crashing
The F-16 is a fighter jet developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin in the US and is one of the most widely-used fixed-wing fighter aircraft in the world.
It first began flying in 1974 and updated versions are still in use in air forces across the globe.
It is capable of reaching speeds of over 1500mph (Mach 2) when flying at altitude, can make turns with G-forces of over 9G, and is renowned for its reliability and durability.
