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F-16 crashes in central Turkey - pilot safe

May 22, 2007 (by Lieven Dewitte) - An F-16 block 40 crashed in Konya province in central Turkey on Tuesday, but the pilot of the plane safely ejected before the crash, the semi-official Anatolian news agency reported.

The jet believed to be #91-0019 crashed near Altinapa Dam of Muhsine village in Konya.

About 5-10 minutes after it took off from the 3rd Main Jet Base in the province, the jet went into secondary engine control (SEC) mode. While gaining altitude and heading back to the base, a flameout occurred. The pilot tried to restart the engine twice but to no avail.

The pilot Ilker Ozdil, 34, ejected 15 nautical miles from the base. He was slightly injured and taken to Meram Medical Faculty Hospital of Selcuk University by helicopter for treatment.