No requests for assistance from Kyiv about F-16 crash – Pentagon
The United States did not receive any requests for assistance from Ukraine about the crash of an F-16 fighter jet on August 26, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh has said on Thursday.
"I've seen the reports, I'm not aware of any assistance or requests for assistance from the Ukrainian side to us about this particular incident. But I'd refer you to the Ukrainians more to speak to any specifics on this pilot," she said at a press conference in response to the question about details of the crash.
She refused to get into numbers of how many F-16s are in Ukraine.
"I will say that, broadly speaking, combat aviation is incredibly complex. And we've been very proud to train some of the pilots here in the United States and not just here, but our partners and allies through the UDCG [Ukraine Defense Contact Group] are also training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. And every day that they fly those aircraft, these are brave men and women going up there to defend their skies and to defend their country. And so, we're very proud to have been part of training some of those here in the United States, but I just don't have more to add on that particular incident," the press secretary said.
As reported, an F-16 fighter jet crashed in Ukraine this week. The pilot died.
"During the air battle, the F-16 aircraft demonstrated their high efficiency, four enemy cruise missiles were shot down by on-board weapons. During the event for the next target, communication was lost with one of the aircraft. As it turned out later, the plane crashed, the pilot was killed. A special commission of the Ministry of Defense, working in the area of the crash, is designed to clarify the causes of the accident," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on the Telegram channel.