NATO’s French, Lithuanian warplanes collide in midair

A NATO French Air Force Mirage fighter and a Lithuanian L-39 Albatross trainer collided during an exercise in Lithuania on Tuesday, Defense Ministry spokeswoman Ruta Putnikeke said.

The Lithuanian plane fell and the pilot ejected safely on a lake, Putnikeke said.

The French fighter landed without further incident.

The crash took place around 7:30 GMT near Lake Rekyva not far from Lithuania’s Siauliai airbase.

“We regret the incident. We do not know all the circumstances yet. We can only say with relief that there have been no human casualties,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said.

“Unfortunately, such things happen sometimes.”

Lithuania joined NATO in 2004.

Related Topic Tags

• Fighter Aircraft, france, Lithuania, NATO

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