US jet catches fire during takeoff in Iraq

The US military says an F-16 fighter jet was destroyed after it caught fire during takeoff. The pilot pulled out of the planned takeoff and the fire was extinguished.

The US military says an F-16 fighter jet was destroyed after it caught fire during takeoff.

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The military says the pilot pulled out of the planned takeoff early on Wednesday morning and the fire was extinguished next to the runway at Balad Air Base north of Baghdad.

The pilot had no apparent injuries but was taken to a hospital at the air base for evaluation. The aircraft was assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.

The military gave no cause for the fire and says it will investigate the incident.