Tragedy in the kingdom: F‑15SA aircraft crashes, leaving two dead

Two people were killed in a crash involving a Saudi Arabian Royal Force fighter jet. The F-15SA aircraft crashed during a routine mission at the King Abdulaziz Air Base, located in the East of the kingdom.

The crash was reported by the State Saudi Press Agency, which quoted the Saudi military spokesperson, according to the Associated Press. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki stated that the accident involving the F-15SA fighter occurred on Thursday at 12:50 local time.

The crash resulted in the death of the two crew members aboard the aircraft. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, the military spokesperson, reported that the airplane was involved in a training mission conducted at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran, in the eastern region of the country. No additional details about the tragedy were provided by the Saudi military spokesperson.

The F-15SA is a variant of the American heavy-duty fighter jets, created by McDonnell Douglas, which are designed for operation in all atmospheric conditions. Saudi Arabia has dozens of F-15SA aircraft in their fleet. The Associated Press also reported that earlier in July this year, another aircraft accident occurred near King Khalid's Air Base in Khamis Mushait, in which two crew members also died.

With over 500 aircraft, the Saudi Arabian Royal Force constitutes the largest air force in the Middle East. The only regional air power that rivals it is the Israeli Air Force. The majority of the Saudi Arabian weaponry is acquired from the United States and Europe.