Several US military planes crashed this morning, all crew members survived, the Kuwaiti military announced.
Photos from Kuwait show three different US pilots ejecting today, suggesting multiple aircraft were involved.
Footage has gone viral online showing the fighter losing control in mid-air after being hit near the tail section. The footage shows the plane spinning uncontrollably several times, after which it caught fire and crashed to the ground. Witnesses reported a loud explosion after the crash and thick black smoke rising from the crash site.
The pilot jumped out of the aircraft just before the crash and parachuted down safely. Footage from the scene shows him on the ground, conscious, before locals take him away in the back of a truck. The identity of the pilot has not yet been officially released.
Tensions in the Middle East have risen further in recent days, and air traffic over several countries in the region is almost completely militarized. Kuwait is a long-time ally of the United States of America and one of the key logistics points of the US military in the Persian Gulf.
The country is home to important US bases and equipment depots, and Kuwaiti airspace is frequently used by US and allied warplanes during operations in Iraq, Syria and beyond.
The F-15 is a fourth-generation American multipurpose fighter aircraft, developed in the 1970s, but still one of the backbones of the US Air Force. It is known for its exceptional air superiority capabilities, high speed (over Mach 2.5) and powerful armament that includes air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs.
Various versions of the F-15 are also used by numerous US allies, including the Gulf countries.
(TYPE/Source: federalna.ba/Photo: Printscreen)
