TAIPEI: An F-5E fighter jet crashed during a mission off the coast of Taitung County in eastern Taiwan, killing the pilot, the island’s defence department said.
The fighter jet crashed less than two minutes after taking off yesterday morning.
The pilot managed to bail out and was rescued from the sea but pronounced dead in the hospital, the department said.
The pilot had reported failure of one engine shortly after taking off but the actual cause of the accident was still under investigation, the department added.
The F-5E is an older generation fighter with a design dating back to the 1960s.
The military will suspend the operation of all F-5 fighters and start a thorough security check. — Xinhua
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