Namibian F-7 fighter badly damaged

A Namibiese Lugmag (NDF, Namibia Defence Force) Chengdu F-7NM fighter jet has been badly damaged in a runway excursion at Ondangwa’s Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airport.

The aircraft, serial 0315, suffered the incident on 15 October 2021. The Chief of the Namibia Defence Force, Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, told Informante Newspaper that the aircraft had landed normally but its brake parachute failed to deploy, causing it to overshoot the runway. As Ondangwa is now a commercial airport, it does not have arresting systems, he said.

Photos and videos show the aircraft upside down at the end of the runway, and badly damaged. It is most likely a write-off. The pilot is apparently uninjured but was taken to hospital for evaluation. Air Marshal Pinehas said an investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Air Force.

This is the second NDF aircraft incident in less than a month. On 23 September 2021, a Hongdu K-8 jet trainer crashed shortly after takeoff from Karibib. Both pilots ejected and one was injured, suffering multiple fractures.

The NDF has a dozen Chengdu F-7NM/FT-7NM combat aircraft and a dozen Hongdu K-8 jet trainers in service. These are the only jet aircraft in its inventory. Both types are based at Grootfontein air base; the F-7BN/FT-NM fighters are operated by the 23rd Fighter Squadron, the K-8 trainers are operated by the Air Wing Training Squadron (AWTS).

Photos via Namibian Sun and The Namibian