A Korea Aerospace Industries T-50B aircraft from the Black Eagles display team crashed while taking off from Changi airport’s runway 1.
The crash occurred at 13:24 local time when the jet “skidded and crashed into the grass verge at the side of runway 1 and caught fire,” says the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in a statement.
YouTube/StraitsTimes
The aircraft was taking off prior to appearing in the flying display.
The Airport Emergency Service immediately extinguished the fire. The pilot is being treated for light injuries. The incident caused runway 1 to be closed.
The team performs with eight aircraft. KAI says the T-50B is customised to increase manoeuverability, and also comes with smoke dispensers.
Apart from the T-50B and baseline T-50A, KAI also produces the FA-50 light fighter aircraft.
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Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that there are 182 T-50 family aircraft in service globally, with 28 firm orders. South Korea is the largest operator with 145.
The type has proven popular in Southeast Asia. Thailand recently received its first two examples from an orderbook for 12 T-50THs, and the Philippines has received 12 FA-50s as it works to recapitalise its fast jet capability. Indonesia also operates 15 T-50As, having lost one in a crash.
In the Middle East, Iraq has received six examples from an order for 24 aircraft. The aircraft also forms the basis of Lockheed Martin's bid for the US T-X trainer programme to replace the Northrop T-38.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
