AMSTERDAM — An F-16 fighter jet crashed near the Dutch island of Vlieland on Friday, killing its Belgian pilot.

The accident took place shortly before midday. Three helicopters and four rescue boats were dispatched to search for the pilot. The pilot’s body has since been recovered.

The plane had taken off from the Florennes air force base in Belgium on Friday morning with three other F-16s for a military exercise.

A Belgian military investigation commission has been sent to the scene of the accident to determine the cause of the crash.

Defence Minister André Flahaut has offered his sympathies to the pilot’s family, newspaper ‘De Standaard’ reported.

A pilot was also killed after two Belgian F-16 air force jets crashed during a military exercise in Belgium in December 2003. Another pilot managed to eject and escaped unhurt.

The accident happened above woodland in the Marche-en-Famenne area in the south of the Belgium.

In April 2004, a Belgian F-16 crashed near the town of Sellingen in the Groningen province of the Netherlands.

The jet had collided with an ultra-light plane from a local flying club.

One of the two Belgian crew members died and the pilot of the ultra-light was also killed in the accident.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news and Belgian news