Saudi crew killed in trainer jet crash

Gulf News Report

ARoyal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) jet has crashed in the northwest of the kingdom, killing the crew, a Saudi defence ministry spokesperson has said.

The British-manufactured Hawk crashed at noon on Monday during a training exercise. No further details of the circumstances of the accident were provided.

The statement also did not specify how many crew were on board.

An investigation was launched to determine the causes of the crash, the spokesperson added.

According to defence reports, the BAE Hawk advanced jet trainer is used to prepare pilots to fly nextgeneration combat jets.

Saudi Arabia purchased its first Hawks in the 1980s. In February 2016, BAE Systems signed a contract to supply the RSAF with a second batch of Hawk 165s.

“The modernisation of the RSAF’s training aircraft fleet has been extended with an agreement for the supply of a further 22 Hawk aircraft, associated ground equipment and training aids,” BAE said.