Harrier crashes in Afghanistan pilot injured on ejection
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Harrier crashes in Afghanistan pilot injured on ejection
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KABUL, May 14 (Reuters) - A British Harrier fighter jet crashed in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, injuring the pilot, NATO said.
The alliance said in a statement that the aircraft had made an emergency landing at Kandahar Airfield in the south of the country. The pilot ejected and was believed to have suffered only minor injuries. There were no other casualties.
"The exact cause of the incident is not yet known, however there is currently no suggestion that the incident was caused by enemy action," the alliance said in a statement.
Earlier a spokesman blamed mechanical failure for the crash, which he said had taken place shortly after takeoff.
Britain's Royal Air Force has had BAE Harrier GR7 aircraft deployed in Afghanistan since 2006, adding more advanced Harrier GR9s in early 2007.
(Reporting by Peter Graff; Editing by Paul Tait)
The alliance said in a statement that the aircraft had made an emergency landing at Kandahar Airfield in the south of the country. The pilot ejected and was believed to have suffered only minor injuries. There were no other casualties.
"The exact cause of the incident is not yet known, however there is currently no suggestion that the incident was caused by enemy action," the alliance said in a statement.
Earlier a spokesman blamed mechanical failure for the crash, which he said had taken place shortly after takeoff.
Britain's Royal Air Force has had BAE Harrier GR7 aircraft deployed in Afghanistan since 2006, adding more advanced Harrier GR9s in early 2007.
(Reporting by Peter Graff; Editing by Paul Tait)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
PS
I did note the BBC quoted an MOD spokesperson. Also I noticed a link on the BBC page - Is Afghanistan a worthy battle? curiously this forum is shown as unavailable.
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Sadly the MOD spokes"man" said quite a lot that was inappropriate, unconfirmed and in fact quite inaccurate. Really wish people would learn to shut the xxxx up until accurate information could be released by staff who actually know what has happened.
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Athenick, you are quite right that the good news is the pilot was OK. However at the time the spokesman made the statement this was actually not known for certain, all that was known was that there had been an ejection.
Gentleman Aviator
And I'm delighted that the Sun remembers to tell us that the "RAF Top Gun" pilot stayed with the "blazing jet" to "steer it past a civilian passenger aircraft" - nearly a full house in journo-cr@p bingo.
But seriously, some stunning pictures in the Current Bun, which don't seem to be on their website ... and another VERY big thank you to Mr Martin and Mr Baker.....
Edited to add: but I've just noticed that the website does confirm that "there were no passengers on board ......."!!!
But seriously, some stunning pictures in the Current Bun, which don't seem to be on their website ... and another VERY big thank you to Mr Martin and Mr Baker.....
Edited to add: but I've just noticed that the website does confirm that "there were no passengers on board ......."!!!
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I can find nothing about this story on the Sun website. Could somebody give me a link please?
I saw the photo very briefly on the BBC news about 0900 this morning but seen nothing since.
Sorry, but I have to ask.....were they real?
I saw the photo very briefly on the BBC news about 0900 this morning but seen nothing since.
Sorry, but I have to ask.....were they real?
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Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
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The reader 'comments' are excellent as well. I didn't realise that you normally break both legs whilst ejecting!!
The large 'Royal Navy' logo on the tail must have been a clue......
I have just seen the photos in the Sun today, they look pretty real to me. If anyone has a way of posting them, please do it. For those who missed the photos, do all you can to see them, outstanding pictures.
The large 'Royal Navy' logo on the tail must have been a clue......
I have just seen the photos in the Sun today, they look pretty real to me. If anyone has a way of posting them, please do it. For those who missed the photos, do all you can to see them, outstanding pictures.
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Mechanical failure is being blamed, with the jet’s undercarriage failing to lower as it came in to land.
NoD
