Shine Bu Chay Both pilots were found dead
BBM-July 3
News-Richard
The military junta’s plane that crashed in Hpa Saung, Karenni State, was a Chinese-made FTC-2000G jet fighter, replacing the F-7 and A-5 aircraft, and two pilots were found dead.
“We found 2 people. We found 2 bodies. That can be confirmed,” a Karenni-based revolutionary force member told BBM.
The military junta had earlier purchased Chinese and Pakistani-made JF-17 aircraft to replace the F-7 and A-5 aircraft, but after engine failure and other mechanical errors, the Chinese-made FTC-2000G was used as a replacement, a former air force official (CDM)told BBM.
“The initial purchase was to replace the JF-17. There were many errors in the production of the aircraft with Pakistan and China, so we stopped buying them because we were disappointed,” he told BBM.
The military junta also continues to use JF-17, flying from Magway Air Base and mainly bombing Rakhine.
“They’re using it when they’re shooting at Rakhine. They departed from Magway air base.”
The military junta’s Namsang Air Base has a total of about 16 FTC-2000G fighter jets, which are mainly stationed there.
The military junta reportedly flew the FTC-2000G aircraft to Tada-U and Meiktila Air Bases, depending on where they were to be dropped.
“There are about 16 vehicles in Namsang. There are occasional military operations from there. These are people from Namsang. From Namsang, they sit in Meiktila for other places. They sit at the bridge. Then they go and drop off,” he continued.
KNDF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Maui said in a video he released, “I am informing you that I am sure you will be informed. One jet fighter(bird), one battalion, is in Karenni, and it is the hand of Karenni soldiers.”It was posted on his social media at around 3pm on July 3.
On July 3, the military junta announced that contact with the FTC-2000G fighter jet was lost about 130 kilometers (about 800 miles) southeast of Nay Pyi Taw.
