Boeing fighter jet crashes and bursts into flames moments after taking off

This is the moment a military jet exploded into flames seconds after taking off.

A huge fireball was captured erupting from the Boeing F/A-18D Hornet, operated by the Malaysian Air Force, as it hurtled down the runway.

Both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft moments before it crashed to the ground.

They were then taken to Tengku Ampuam Afzan Hospital for treatment, police said.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) said: ‘We would like to inform you of an accident involving an F/A-18D Hornet at 9.05pm August 21 at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan.

‘We are taking immediate action and will update on the latest development.’

The crash at Kuantan airbase was the second involving an F/A-18 within 24 hours and the seventh within the space of just 10 months.

A pilot escaped after a Super Hornet crashed into the water during a training flight off the coast of Virginia the same day.

The US Navy said in a statement: ‘At approximately 9:53 a.m. EDT, a pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, ejected from an F/A-18E Super Hornet while operating off the coast of Virginia during a routine training flight.

‘Multiple search and rescue assets were deployed and quickly arrived on scene. The pilot was rescued at approximately 11:21 a.m. EDT and was transported to a local hospital for further medical evaluation. The F/A-18E remains in the water where it crashed.’

Last December, an F-18 aircraft was accidentally shot down by friendly fire while deployed on the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea.

Another two Super Hornets fell off the same aircraft carrier earlier this year.

One F-18 was being towed into a hangar in April, while another jet went overboard a week later after attempting to land.

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