- Title: LITHUANIA: NATO and Lithuanian planes collide during training exercise
- Date: 31st August 2011
- Summary: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (AUGUST 30, 2011) (REUTERS) NATIONAL DEFENCE MINISTRY BUILDING SIGNBOARD READING: 'MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA' CHIEF OF DEFENCE, MAJOR GENERAL ARVYDAS POCIUS ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Lithuanian) CHIEF OF DEFENCE OF REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA MAJOR GENERAL ARVYDAS POCIUS SAYING: "A Lithuanian air force jet trainer L-39 AZ Albatros collided with a French air force Mirrage-2000 fighter at about 10.30 (7.30 gmt) in the vicinity of the air base near Siauliai while performing a planned training flight. There was a collision in the air during the flight. The light-attack plane L-39 crashed near Rekyva lake. Both pilots ejected themselves successfully and were later picked up by air force rescue helicopter Mi-8 and were brought back to the base. After a medical checkup they returned to their base." CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Lithuanian) CHIEF OF DEFENCE OF REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA MAJOR GENERAL ARVYDAS POCIUS SAYING: "After the collision, the pilots did everything they could to steer the plane away from inhabited territory to avoid any damage to civilian property. The Mirage-2000 landed by itself after suffering damage to its stabiliser." LITHUANIAN COAT OF THE ARMS
- Embargoed: 15th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lithuania, Lithuania
- Country: Lithuania
- Topics: Disasters,Defence / Military,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA89Q91Z0927LRFBQTVQ4PTCN64
- Story Text: A French NATO jet collided with a Lithuanian air force plane during an training exercise on Tuesday (August 30) causing the Lithuanian plane to crash, the Defence Ministry said.
Nobody was injured in the incident, Lithuania's chief of defence said.
"A Lithuanian air force jet trainer L-39 AZ Albatros collided with a French air force Mirrage-2000 fighter at about 10.30 (7.30 gmt) in the vicinity of the air base near Siauliai while performing a planned training flight. There was a collision in the air during the flight. The light-attack plane L-39 crashed near Rekyva lake. Both pilots ejected themselves successfully and were later picked up by air force rescue helicopter Mi-8 and were brought back to the base. After a medical checkup they returned to their base," said Major General Arvydas Pocius.
The defence chief said the Lithuanian pilots of the Czech-made L39 training plane, of which Lithuania had only two, had managed to avert a disaster.
"After the collision, the pilots did everything they could to steer the plane away from inhabited territory to avoid any damage to civilian property. The Mirage-2000 landed by itself after suffering damage to its stabiliser," he told a news conference.
A French embassy spokesman confirmed that the French Mirage jet had landed safely.
The incident happened over the Siauliai airbase in northern Lithuania, where the NATO mission is based.
NATO has confirmed the incident, but said it would continue air policing mission over the Baltic states.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been members of the NATO military alliance since 2004, but since none of the three Baltic states has a substantial air force, planes from other NATO nations patrol their skies.
The French contingent is due to hand over to Denmark on September 2. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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