Military plane crashes in Gulu, pilot ejects to safety
Sep 11, 2014
One person on-board a military aircraft escaped with his life after the plane he was flying crashed in the northern Ugandan district of Gulu on Thursday.
GULU – One person on-board a military aircraft escaped with his life after the plane he was flying crashed in the northern Ugandan district of Gulu on Thursday.
Colonel Joseph Balikuddembe, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces 4th Division Second-in-Command, said the plane crashed shortly after take-off from the 4th Division’s airbase.
The white L39 jet owned by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces was being flown by a trainee pilot, Emmaneul Sajjabi, who ejected the plane when it developed problems, in flight.
“We use the plane for training purposes and routinely test our pilots on the same craft,” said Balikuddembe.
The incident occurred in Patek Parish, Bobi subcounty.
The pilot sustained minor injuries and was moments after the crash taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor in Gulu Municipality.
Ambrose Otema who witnessed the air mishap said smoke billowed from the aircraft at around 12.30pm before going down.
AUDIO
Also related to this story