A+ A-

Saudi sport plane crashes, pilot killed

RIYADH, Aug 16 (KUNA) -- A sport plane, of Tecnam type, crashed shortly after takeoff from Thumamah airport, some 64 km north Riyadh, on Tuesday.
The pilot, a Saudi trainee, was killed in the accident that occurred at 6:30 am. local time, the Saudi Arabia Aviation Investigation Bureau announced in a statement.
The pilot sent a Mayday radio message five minutes after taking off and then contact was lost with the ill-fated plane which was on a training flight.
Upon receiving the message, the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation sent search and rescue plane which located the wreckage of Tecnam nearly five km. north Thumamah airport, according to the statement. The security services and rescuers rushed to the site but the pilot had breathed his last. Investigators started probing the causes of the tragedy. (end) mdm.ams.gb