Indonesian military plane crashes, two pilots killed: Reports

Two pilots were killed when an Indonesian military plane crashed in central Java, local media reported. PHOTO: RIEFQI MUNA/TWITTER

JAKARTA (AFP) - Two pilots were killed on Sunday (Dec 20) when an Indonesian military plane crashed in central Java, local media reported.

Video circulating on social media showed a fighter plane performing manoeuvres in the skies above Yogyakarta before spiralling toward the ground at speed and disappearing from view.

Seconds later a thick, dark plume of smoke rose beyond the horizon, as people in the video can be heard screaming.

Indonesian air force spokesman Dwi Badarmanto confirmed a T-50 Golden Eagle fighter plane had crashed during a demonstration.

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"Two pilots died," he told news website Detik.

It remains unclear if anyone on the ground was killed or injured.

A major military air show had been underway this weekend in Yogyakarta.

In June, a Hercules C-130 crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Medan, the largest city on Sumatra island, killing 142 people and causing widespread destruction.

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