Ukraine lost an F-16 fighter jet this morning due to an emergency situation on board, the country's Air Force said, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
The pilot managed to eject successfully and is in satisfactory condition.
According to a statement by the Ukrainian Air Force on the “Telegram“ platform, the incident occurred during a mission to repel a Russian air attack. “According to preliminary data, an unusual situation has arisen on board. The pilot steered the plane away from a nearby settlement and successfully ejected, the statement said.
The Air Force Command reported on Facebook that contact with the plane was lost at around 3 a.m. this morning. According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, the pilot had destroyed three air targets and was working on a fourth when the emergency occurred.
Thanks to the quick response of the search and rescue team, the pilot was located and evacuated. His condition is described as stable.