Indonesian fighter pilot escapes as F-16 jet bursts into flames before take-off

An Indonesian fighter jet caught fire just before taking off with other aircraft, forcing the pilot to abort the mission and jump to safety as flames and thick smoke engulfed the aircraft.

The plane had been due to take off from a Jakarta airbase with three other jets, which took off successfully, in preparation for security support at the summit of Asian and African leaders in Indonesia next week.

But the jet suddenly caught fire and could not make the flight. The cause was under investigation.

“As the aircraft was about to take off, there was a fire in the engine, and the pilot straight away decided to abort the flight,” air force chief of staff Agus Supriatna said on news channel MetroTV today.

The pilot escaped with minor injuries and is now being treated in hospital.

“The pilot was rushed to hospital but he is conscious,” Supriatna added.