Black Eagles jet crashes in Singapore
A T-50B aircraft of the Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team participating in the Singapore Air Show skidded and crashed on the runway at Changi Airport, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
A T-50B jet of the Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team skidded off a runway at Singapore’s Changi Airport and caught fire during an air show, Tuesday, according to the local civil aviation authority.
“One aircraft of the Black Eagles aerobatic team from the Korean Air Force skidded and crashed into the grass verge on the side of Changi Airport’s Runway 1 and caught fire,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said.
The aircraft was about to take off to perform in the air show’s opening flight demonstration. The biennial aerospace event will run through Sunday.
“The aircraft was taking off for the flying display program at the air show. The Airport Emergency Service responded to the incident immediately and the fire was extinguished. The pilot sustained light injuries and is being treated,” it added.
The Korean Air Force also confirmed the accident, adding that an investigation has been launched to study the cause of the accident and potential damage.
The Black Eagles team left its base in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Jan. 26, for its third appearance at the show and arrived there three days later via Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia.