Myanmar: 2 pilots, 1 student die in fighter jet crashes

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON (AA) – Two pilots and a young student are confirmed dead after two military jets crashed in central Myanmar on Tuesday, according to a government official.

“One crashed into a creek while another crashed near a village,” in Minbu Township in the Magway region, regional official Myint Zaw told Anadolu Agency by phone.

It is unclear why the jets crashed in the same place at the same time, he said, suggesting that one jet hit a cellphone tower or crashed to avoid hitting it.

Anadolu Agency was unable to reach Myanmar Air Force for comment.

The pilots’ bodies were found near the crash sites, he said, adding that a student who was studying at her teacher’s house was also killed.

“She was seriously injured by parts from the crashed plane, and died minutes later,” said Myint Zaw.

Two other students were also slightly injured, he added.

Plane debris was scattered over a large area near the accidents, said Win Win, a lawmaker representing Minbu.

“The planes crashed into pieces,” he told Anadolu Agency on the phone.

Military plane wrecks have been relatively common in Myanmar in recent years. In June 2017, 122 military personnel and their families were killed when their plane crashed into the Andaman Sea.