UAE jet in runway drama after Libyan sortie

By Andy Sambidge
  • Wednesday, 27 April 2011 7:14 PM
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(Getty Images - for illustrative purposes only)

(Getty Images - for illustrative purposes only)

A UAE F-16 fighter jet taking part in military operations over Libya veered off the runway after landing at an air base in Italy, state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.

The General Command of the UAE Armed Forces, in a statement, said the plane veered off the runway due to bad weather.

"The pilot had to eject from the plane to save his life and minor damages were caused to the plane's frame," the statement added.

The pilot was forced to eject from the plane on landing at the Sigonella air base in Sicily which was temporarily shut down.

"The UAE's Air Force has committed six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft to participate in the patrols that now enforce the no fly zone over Libya. The plane was based at the Decimomannu base in Sardinia.

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Posted by: tony Thursday, 28 April 2011 7:38 PM[UAE] - germany

Most soldiers in UAE military are from Pakistan/Sudan and Yemen.

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Posted by: Vincent Thursday, 28 April 2011 7:38 PM[UAE] - India

How dare the Europeans make the hardworking UAE pilots work in bad weather and put their lives at risk? Do they not know better??

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Posted by: mike Thursday, 28 April 2011 7:35 PM[UAE] - United States

Goodness....these UAE pilots are not up to par. If the plane got minor frame damage, I bet the pilot did not need to eject.

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Posted by: Abdullah Al Qassimi Thursday, 28 April 2011 2:51 PM[UAE] - UAE

Lol!

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Posted by: Harry Jones Thursday, 28 April 2011 12:40 PM[UAE] - Lebanon

Can the UAE not outsource pilots to avoid this happening in the future?

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