KDF Jet crashes in Kismayo after conducting raids in Southern Somalia
One of the very few KDF F5 fighter jets crashed while returning from a combat mission near Kismayo Somalia after it developed technical problems. The jet pilot, Major Otongo, perished in the crash
A KDF F-5 Fighter jet. A similar jet crashed in Somalia on Thursday. Photo- Wikipedia
The Al Shabaab militia were quick to claim that they shot down the F-5 jet and that they were holding Major Otongo’s body. Al-shabab’s Governor of Lower Juba Abdurahman Hudeyfa had said they had custody of the KDF jet wreckage and the charred body of its pilot. However, this was rubbished by KDF’s spokesman who confirmed that it crashed due to a technical problem
Earlier on Thursday, witnesses said that KDF jets were bombing AlShabaab controlled areas near BulaGudud village, 30km North of Kismayo and loud explosions could be heard for the better part Thursday
The KDF’s F5 jet crash leaves with Kenya with about 14 such aircrafts. In 2008, the government purchased 15 F-5s that were being disposed by the Jordanian Airforce, to replace Kenya’s aging fleet of 5 F-5s at a cost of $ 23 Million.
