If you’ve watched Top Gun: Maverick, you’d know how pilots are trained to be ejected from their fighter jets if they’re going to crash.
This happened in real life, in Singapore, this afternoon, in Tengah Air Base.
A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 jet crashed at Tengah Air Base shortly after take-off on this afternoon (8 May 2024), according to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
The incident, which occurred at 12:35pm, was due to “an issue” experienced during take-off.
Investigations into the crash are currently underway, with MINDEF promising updates on the matter as they become available.
Mindef said, “The pilot successfully ejected and the plane crashed thereafter within Tengah Air Base.
“The pilot is conscious and able to walk. He is receiving medical attention. No other personnel is hurt.”
Singapore has a longstanding history of operating the F-16, spanning over three decades.
Recently, efforts have been made to enhance the capabilities of the fleet to ensure operational readiness until the mid-2030s.
These enhancements include the integration of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, enabling the F-16 to effectively track and engage multiple targets from increased distances.
Additionally, improvements in all-weather, ground-attack capabilities have been made, enabling the aircraft to strike targets with heightened precision using more advanced munitions.
