A Belgian F-16 fighter jet crashed near Pluvigner, western France. The two pilots managed to eject. The falling aircraft damaged a house, its occupants were evacuated.
The twin-seat F-16 took off from Florennes Air Base near Namur, Belgium, and was on its way to the naval aviation base of Lann-Bihoué (LRT), according to Ouest France. The aircraft was unarmed.
No casualties were reported. One of the pilots’ parachutes was caught in high-voltage line cables. He was recovered safe and sound. The aircraft, which clipped the roof of a house as it crashed, set fire to a nearby building and trees. A safety perimeter was set up while firefighters are intervening on the fire.
A Grumman E2-C Hawkeye aircraft from the Lann-Bihouéand naval aviation base and an NH-90 helicopter were scrambled to participate in the rescue operation.