January 28, 2016 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
An Egyptian F-16 crashed during a military exercise at Al Ismailiyah Air Base in north-eastern Egypt, killing both crew members.
EAF F-16B block 15 #9206 from 232 TFB is flying alongside a USAF KC-135 tanker during a Bright Star exercise. [Photo by Jeff Stoermer]
A statement issued did not specify the cause of the crash or which squadron the jet came from, but local media outlets have reportedly suggested it was due to a “technical failure". According to state-owned Al-Ahram, the jet crashed near the Fayed Military Airport, away from any residential areas.
Pilot Mohamed Gamal Farag, 48, and Captain Mahmoud Fouad, 42 were both killed as a result of the crash.
Egypt's well-equipped military was boosted by
recent deliveries of F-16s by Washington and Rafale fighter jets from France.
The previous fatal crash from an
EAF F-16 dated from
21 April 2008 when a single seater crashed about 80 miles south of Beni Suef AB.
Last year in November, an Egyptian military helicopter crashed due to a technical error. The crew suffered injuries in the crash.
The helicopter was engaged in routine scouting when the technical error occurred.
