Belgian Air Force F-16 fighter jets. Credits: Belgian Air Force.

A Belgian Air Force F-16 has crashed in France; the pilots successfully ejected but one was left dangling after their parachute got caught in the high voltage cables.

Belgian Air Component officials said the crash occurred in the north-west of France, with reports saying it occurred between Pluvigner and Lorient.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Both pilots have been recovered and the dangling pilot was successfully retrieved from the power lines by emergency services.

The Belgian Air Force tweeted: “one of our F16 crashed near Lorient in France. The pilots left the plane using their ejector seats. (sic)”

The fighter jet crashed in an area of farmland leaving a column of smoke as the aircraft caught fire.

No civilians were harmed in the accident, although reportedly a house was damaged.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The aircraft was en-route from Belgium to a French naval base when the accident took place and it was not armed with any ordnance when it crashed.

Yesterday, Belgian F-16s intercepted a Russian SU-28 Flanker over the Baltic Sea as part of the NATO mission to police the area.

The Belgian Defence Ministry has said it is sending investigators to the crash site to find the cause of the accident.

The F-16 is a multi-role fighter than first saw active service in 1978 and has been produced ever since, seeing service with air forces across the world including those of the US, Israel and South Korea. As of 2016, 4,500 F-16 fighters had been delivered.

Belgium currently operates 45 F-16A aircraft but has ordered 34 advanced F-35 fighter jets.