UPDATE - Spain's defense ministry confirms jet crash

UPDATES WITH CONFIRMATION OF PILOT'S DEATH

ISTANBUL (AA) - A jet fighter belonging to the Spanish military crashed on Thursday after an air display to mark the country's national day.

Spain's defense ministry confirmed the Eurofighter went down in Albacete, southern Spain, on its return to base.

The ministry said the pilot died in the accident which happened during a landing maneuver.

Images, purportedly from the scene of the crash, showed a huge plume of black smoke rising from burning wreckage.

Spanish authorities say they are investigating the incident, and said the cause of the crash remained unknown.