A Belgian air force mechanic accidentally opens fire and destroys an F-16
A Belgian air force mechanic servicing a warplane at a base opened fire and destroyed another F-16 jet fighter on the tarmac, reported VRT, without naming its sources. The incident happened at a base in the south of Belgium
Another warplane, a multi-million-dollar, U.S.-built plane, was also damaged and two mechanics reported temporary hearing loss caused by the blast, the Belgian armed forces reported. Both mechanics are receiving treatment.
F-16 destroyed in Florennes Air Base, Belgium after a gunsmith accidentally fired on the fighter jet https://t.co/wP0VklnTY8
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) October 12, 2018
“It could have been a disaster,” said Colonel Didier Polome. He had flown back from the Baltic sea where Belgian F-16s have been deployed on NATO’s border with Russia.
The commander of the Florennes airfield informed RTBF that an inquiry would look into the matter to check whether any deliberate wrongdoing had taken place.
