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Saudi F-15SA Fighter Jet Crashes

An investigation into the crash was underway, the spokesperson added…reports Asian Lite News

A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA fighter jet reportedly crashed during a routine training mission, killing all crew members on board.

Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki confirmed that the incident occurred at 12:50 p.m. on Thursday during a routine training mission from the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the eastern town of Dhahran, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report.

An investigation into the crash was underway, the spokesperson added.

The crash killed two crew members on board, reported the Saudi Gazette website.

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-Top News UK News

Car crashes into gates of Downing Street

The suspect, who is yet to be identified, was driving a silver hatchback. The police said that there are no reports of any injuries, and inquiries are ongoing…reports Asian Lite News

A car crashed into the gates outside Downing Street, which houses the London residences and offices of the Prime Minister (No. 10) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (No. 11), on Thursday, and its driver has been arrested, the police said.

“At around 16:20 hrs (local time), a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving,” the City of Westminster Police said in a tweet.

The suspect, who is yet to be identified, was driving a silver hatchback. The police said that there are no reports of any injuries, and inquiries are ongoing.

As per reports, Whitehall – the main road running past Downing Street – has been closed by the police as a precautionary measure.

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-Top News USA

Nine US soldiers killed after Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky

Crew members were flying “during a routine training mission when the incident occurred”, the Fort Campbell base said in a statement on Facebook…reports Asian Lite News

Nine US servicemen of the elite 101st Airborne Division – the US Army’s sole air assault formation – were killed when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a “routine training mission” in US’ Kentucky state late on Wednesday, media reports said.

The incident, involving the 101st Airborne Division, happened during a training mission near the Fort Campbell military base at around 10 p.m. local time (2 a.m. GMT) on Wednesday, the BBC reported.

It said the US military officials termed the incident as a “truly tragic loss”.

Crew members were flying “during a routine training mission when the incident occurred”, the Fort Campbell base said in a statement on Facebook.

Kentucky State Police got the call at around 10.15 p.m. (local time) and rushed to an area with a field and woods, State Police Post 1 spokesperson Trooper Sarah Burgess said, adding that no residential areas are affected.

As per the BBC, a US Army spokesperson, in a statement issued earlier, said two HH60 Black Hawk helicopters had crashed during “a routine training mission” and the incident was under investigation and more information would be released as they become available.

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Ukraine carrier cargo plane crashes in Greece

Eyewitnesses saw the plane in flames crash in a cornfield and explosions followed on Saturday evening, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Greek media…reports Asian Lite News

A Ukrainian cargo plane with an eight-member crew on board crashed near Kavala city in northern Greece, Greek media reported.

The Antonov An-12 plane was on route from Serbia to Jordan as the pilot requested permission for an emergency landing and notified Greek authorities of failure in one of the engines, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported, citing sources from the Greek Civil Aviation Authority.

Eyewitnesses saw the plane in flames crash in a cornfield and explosions followed on Saturday evening, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Greek media.

A rescue operation was still underway with special units of disaster personnel approaching the site with precaution, given the yet unconfirmed information that the plane carried 12 tons of cargo including ammunition, ERT reported, citing sources in local authorities.

Power cuts have been reported in communities near the crash site, as the plane cut electric power cables before the crash, it added.

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-Top News PAKISTAN

Pakistani peacekeepers killed in helicopter crash

Intense fighting between the M23 and the DRC forces was reported starting Sunday…reports Arul Louis

Six Pakistani peacekeepers have been killed along with two others when their helicopter went down in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the UN.

Confirming their deaths, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that a search and rescue mission found their bodies.

The six crew members of the helicopter were from Pakistan and the two others on the flight were military personnel from Russia and Serbia, he said.

The helicopter that was on a reconnaissance mission in the area of Tshanzu, south-east of Rutshuru in North Kivu went down on Tuesday, he said.

“There have been clashes there between the M23 armed group and Congolese forces in recent days,” he said.

The M23 is a rebel organisation that has regrouped after being routed nearly a decade ago by DRC troops and UN peacekeepers and it has launched attacks on the DRC military.

Intense fighting between the M23 and the DRC forces was reported starting Sunday.

Dujarric said that an investigation into the crash was underway.

AfricaNews, however, reported that according to the DRC armed forces, the helicopter was shot down.

It quoted a press release from the armed forces as saying, “The helicopter was one of the two MONUSCO reconnaissance helicopters with on board eight Blue helmets (peacekeepers) crew members and United Nations observers.”

MONUSCO is the French acronym for the UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC.

South Asian peacekeepers dominate the 14,000-strong military segment of the operation with 1,974 from Pakistan, 1,888 from India, 1,634 from Bangladesh and 936 from Nepal.

The peacekeeping operations in the DRC — the current MONUSCO and its previous version known as MONUC — are among the deadliest with at least 400 killed.

Thirty Indian peacekeepers have died in the operations, as have 33 from Pakistan, 31 from Bangladesh and seven from Nepal.

UN CHIEF SADDENED

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was saddened by the deaths of eight peacekeepers in a helicopter crash in the Congo.

The secretary general was deeply saddened to confirm the deaths of eight peacekeepers onboard a Puma helicopter that crashed in North Kivu province of the Congo, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The helicopter was on a reconnaissance mission in Tshanzu, where there have been clashes between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the Congo military in recent days, it said, adding that an investigation is underway.

Guterres expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Pakistan, Russia and Serbia, the peacekeepers’ home countries.

He is deeply concerned by the resurgence of M23 activities in the Rwanda-Congo-Uganda border area and the ongoing impact of violence involving armed groups on civilians, said the statement.

The secretary-general reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting the Congolese government and people in their effort to bring peace and stability to the eastern provinces of the country, it said.

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Africa News Arab News News

Five injured in South Sudan plane crash

At least five people are nursing injuries sustained during a cargo plane crash while landing at Agok Airstrip in the Abyei Administrative Area disputed between the border of Sudan and South Sudan…reports Asian Lite news

Kuol Diem Kuol, Chief Administrator of Abyei Administrative Area said on that the Antonov 26 plane, owned by the Ministry of Defense, was delivering primary eight examination papers from Juba when it crashed upon landing on the runway on Tuesday.

Diem said the plane had already distributed examination materials in Bentiu town of Unity state, and was destined to deliver more examination materials to Rumbek town of Lakes state, Xinhua news agency reported.

The national primary school examinations are expected to commence on February 14.

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Awut Deng Acuil, South Sudan Minister for General Education and Instruction, confirmed the incident, adding that the examination papers are now in safe custody of the police.

Several planes have crashed in recent years in South Sudan.

In 2018, 19 people died when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba to Yirol, crashed.

In March 2020, a cargo plane crashed in the north-eastern Jonglei state, leaving 10 killed.

The latest accident in November 2021 left five people dead when a cargo plane crashed in the Maban area of the Upper Nile state.

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-Top News

F-35 fighter jet crashes in Mediterranean

The incident happened at 10:00 GMT over international waters and hostile action is not thought to have been involved, it added…reports Asian Lite News.

A British F-35 fighter jet has crashed into the sea during a routine operation in the Mediterranean, the country’s Ministry of Defence has said.

The pilot ejected and returned safely to the royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Ministry said on Wednesday.

The incident happened at 10:00 GMT over international waters and hostile action is not thought to have been involved, it added.

An investigation has begun and would likely focus on potential technical or human error, reported the BBC.

There are eight British F-35 jets on the carrier and 12 from the US Marine Corps, Xinhua news agency reported.

The supersonic fighters, which cost 92 million pounds (about $124 million) each and are built by the US firm Lockheed Martin, are based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, according to the BBC.

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