Both Pilots Ejected, One Became Entangled In Power Lines

A Belgian Air Force F-16 went down in northwestern France Thursday, leaving one of the pilots dangling from power lines for about two hours after he ejected from the airplane.

The BBC reports that the plane was on a training flight near Pluvigner in Brittany. The commander of the Belgian Air Force, Frederik Vansina, said the plane had been flying at about 1,500 feet when it developed an engine problem, and the crew was unable to restart the engine.

One of the pilots became entangled in the power line, which was reportedly carrying 250,000 volts, after the ejection. It took emergency crews about 2 hours to free him after the line was de-energized. But the pilot suffered only minor injuries. "They needed time to free him. They had to cut the electric current, but I've been on the phone to him and he says he feels fine," Gen Maj Vansina said. The other pilot was also checked out at a hospital and released.

The plane clipped the roof of a house before impacting terrain in a nearby field about 164 feet away. The owner of the home said the roof suffered severe damage. The accident set fire to a shed on the property and some nearby trees, according to the report.

The plane was not carrying any weapons for the training flight. Officials said the F-16 was manufactured in 1983, and was in good condition before the sortie began.

(Image courtesy Cindy Le Gloanic via Facebook)

FMI: Source report