Pilot dies in Myanmar military plane crash
A Myanmar pilot died on 3 April after a ‘technical failure’ caused his military jet fighter to plummet into a paddy field in the centre of the country, the Myanmar Army said.
A live video on Facebook showed flames billowing up from the crash site near Kyunkone village about an hour away from the capital Naypyidaw.
Local people found the unconscious body of the pilot attached to his parachute nearby and tried to drag him away from the scattered debris for medical help.
The army chief's office later confirmed on its Facebook page that the crash was due to a ‘technical failure’ and that the pilot died of his injuries on the way to a military hospital in nearby Taungoo town.
The post added: ‘An investigation is ongoing.’
Police told AFP that the single-seat F-7 jet fighter went down around 10am on 3 April morning while a military source said the pilot, Major Arkar Win, was in his mid-30s.
The F-7 is a Cold War era fighter jet – a Chinese made variant of the Soviet Union's original MiG-21 (pictured).
Myanmar has seen a spate of aviation accidents in recent years, including another military plane crash in June 2017 in which 122 people were killed.
Bad weather caused the Chinese-built Shaanxi Y8, which was carrying dozens of soldiers and more than 70 relatives of servicemen to crash into the Andaman Sea.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026]()
Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026
The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.
-
![How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence]()
How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence
The Canadian Department of National Defence has been increasing efforts to accelerate the acquisition of new equipment and modernise its in-service inventory.
-
![Palantir and Boeing partner up to bring AI to defence manufacturing]()
Palantir and Boeing partner up to bring AI to defence manufacturing
The partnership with the US airframer will see Palantir’s AI software leveraged to help streamline data analytics across Boeing’s 12 factories on defence and classified programmes.
-
![DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities]()
DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities
DroneShield disclosed to Shephard its plans to increase its workforce and manufacturing capacities while strengthening partnerships with US suppliers.
-
![Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities]()
Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities
The technology organisation is expecting a significant rise in the number of staff working across robotics and digital solutions as it becomes more of a focal point.
