Ukrainian Air Force reports loss of contact with F-16 jet, pilot ejects

According to a statement posted by the Air Force Command on Facebook, contact with the F-16 was lost at around 03:30 while the Ukrainian fighter jet was carrying out a mission to repel a Russian aerial attack.

Preliminary reports indicate that the pilot successfully downed three airborne targets and was engaging a fourth using the aircraft's onboard cannon when a technical malfunction occurred. The pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from a populated area before ejecting.

Thanks to the swift response of a search-and-rescue team, the pilot was quickly located and evacuated. His condition is reported as stable; he is in a safe location and faces no threat to his life or health, the Air Force said.

A commission has been appointed to investigate the incident and has already begun its work.

Earlier reports said that a Su-27 fighter jet was lost on April 28 during a combat mission, with the pilot also successfully ejecting.