Toll in Spanish jet crash rises to 11

Spain’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday in Madrid, that the death toll in the crash of a Greek F-16 fighter jet during a NATO training exercise at a military base in south-eastern Spain has risen to 11.

It confirmed that a French soldier died on Tuesday from serious injuries as a result of Monday’s crash.



It said earlier, two Greek pilots and eight French soldiers had died on Monday when the jet lost power during take-off and crashed into several aeroplanes on the ground as they prepared for their own take-offs at the base near the city of Albacete.

The ministry said that Twenty French and Italian soldiers were also injured. An investigation was under way.

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Greece had sent two fighters to participate in the Tactical Leadership Programme, a joint exercise under the aegis of NATO involving Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.S.

The tactical leadership programme was set up between the 10 countries to boost cooperation in military air power.

Its programmes have operated at the base in Spain since 2009.

(NAN)