In a tragic incident that occurred on Thursday, December 7th, a Saudi Arabian F-15SA fighter jet crashed during a routine training exercise sortie, resulting in the loss of all crew members on board. The crash happened near the King Abdel Aziz Air Base, also known as Dhahran Air Base at 12:50 p.m. local time. The F-15SA, a two-seat fighter jet, is a significant part of the Royal Saudi Air Force's fleet, with dozens of these McDonnell Douglas fighter jets in service.
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A statement, issued by the Saudi Arabia Defense Ministry, confirmed the unfortunate event and stated that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash. Referring to the death of the plane’s crew, including HRH Prince Colonel Talal Bin Abdel Aziz Bin Bandar. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesman of the Saudi Ministry of Defense added that an investigation committee has begun probing the causes of the crash. As one of the biggest operators of Boeing-made defense platforms in the Middle East region, with 207 F-15 SA, and 62 F-15 Eagle jet fighters in service, this incident marks a significant setback for the Saudi Arabian military.
It's worth mentioning that this is the second fatal crash of the same type of fighter jets in the last six months. Last July, an F-15SA also crashed near King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. The crash claimed the lives of the two members of the crew. Read more
The loss of the crew members in this tragic incident has cast a somber shadow over the military community. As the investigation continues, the world waits for answers, hoping for insights that might prevent such tragedies in the future.
