Pilot Suffers Only Minor Injuries, According To Reports

A South Korean military jet skidded off a runway at Changi Airport in Singapore on Tuesday, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot.

A YouTube video shows the T-50 aircraft, part of the Black Eagles demonstration team, exiting the runway during takeoff skidding into the grass along the edge of Runway 1 before catching fire. The team was putting on a display for the Singapore Air Show.

The Straits Times reports that the accident led to the closure of one of the two runways at Changi airport for about six hours, resulting in delays for hundreds of travelers. In a statement Changi Airport Group said that about 170 flights were delayed for an hour or more. A spokesman said "The staff of the airlines, ground handlers and CAG worked together to assist affected passengers. Flight operations are expected to return to normal later on Tuesday night."

The damaged airplane had to be removed from the runway, and the pavement then had to be checked for any foreign objects.

The accident occurred at about 1300 local time, and the runway reopened shortly after 1900.

(Image from YouTube video)

FMI: Original Report