Ukraine’s air force confirms loss of French Mirage fighter jet due to equipment failure
(MENAFN) Ukraine’s air force has confirmed the first loss of a Mirage 2000 fighter jet supplied by France, attributing the incident to a technical malfunction that occurred on Tuesday evening.
As part of its military assistance to Ukraine, France pledged six Mirage 2000 jets from its stock of 26 aircraft. The first three were delivered in early February, according to reports. This contribution is part of a larger multibillion-euro aid package aimed at supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The crash took place in Ukraine’s western Volyn Region, far from active combat zones, as reported by Ukrainian media. Footage shared online appeared to show the pilot parachuting safely to the ground.
The Ukrainian military praised the pilot for his handling of the emergency, stating he acted “professionally” and successfully ejected from the aircraft. Air Force communications head Yury Ignat said the unnamed pilot “did everything to divert the aircraft to a safe place far from any settlement.”
“Such incidents are common all over the world,” Ignat added. “The important thing is the pilot is alive and well.”
Ukraine has previously acknowledged the loss of several American-made F-16 jets in combat. While Western aircraft were initially seen as offering a significant edge on the battlefield, Ukraine has largely used them to intercept Russian long-range missile strikes due to limited air defense resources.
The Mirage 2000s provided by France are older aircraft that had been scheduled for decommissioning by 2029. Ukrainian pilots received specific training to operate the jets before they were deployed.
As part of its military assistance to Ukraine, France pledged six Mirage 2000 jets from its stock of 26 aircraft. The first three were delivered in early February, according to reports. This contribution is part of a larger multibillion-euro aid package aimed at supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The crash took place in Ukraine’s western Volyn Region, far from active combat zones, as reported by Ukrainian media. Footage shared online appeared to show the pilot parachuting safely to the ground.
The Ukrainian military praised the pilot for his handling of the emergency, stating he acted “professionally” and successfully ejected from the aircraft. Air Force communications head Yury Ignat said the unnamed pilot “did everything to divert the aircraft to a safe place far from any settlement.”
“Such incidents are common all over the world,” Ignat added. “The important thing is the pilot is alive and well.”
Ukraine has previously acknowledged the loss of several American-made F-16 jets in combat. While Western aircraft were initially seen as offering a significant edge on the battlefield, Ukraine has largely used them to intercept Russian long-range missile strikes due to limited air defense resources.
The Mirage 2000s provided by France are older aircraft that had been scheduled for decommissioning by 2029. Ukrainian pilots received specific training to operate the jets before they were deployed.
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