Media outlet names possible cause of F-16 crash in Ukraine in August
US news outlet Breaking Defense has learned some details of the F-16 crash that killed Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Mes, including that the crash could have been caused by debris from a downed Russian missile.
Source: Breaking Defense with reference to its sources
Details: Breaking Defense noted that one possibility is that the F-16 accidentally flew through a cloud of debris from an intercepted and shot-down Russian missile.
Quote: "These fragments of the destroyed missile may have caused damage to the engine and other parts of the aircraft, causing the F-16 to break apart and/or the death of the pilot before he could eject."
Details: Breaking Defense pointed out that this was the most likely explanation, given previous precedents.
After all, according to the outlet’s source, Ukraine has already lost four fighters for the same reason – two MiG-29s and two Su jets.
The source added that the previous losses did not attract as much attention because they were "not expensive modern fighters".
Background:
- On 29 August, a number of Western media outlets cited sources as saying that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed in Ukraine on 26 August.
- On 26 August, pilot Oleksii Mes was killed while repelling a Russian large-scale combined missile and air strike.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed while repelling a Russian missile attack, killing the pilot.
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