The article states
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According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft on take off used the entire runway, which is not normal, after lift off it flew 50 meters . The Ministry of Defense itself has pointed to "a loss of power " as the cause of the accident. Military sources have explained that the mechanics had warned, before the flight, that the engine of the F-18 made a strange noise " .
It is not clear from the language if before the flight means before liftoff or before the flight commenced.