Jordanian jet fighter crashes in southern Saudi Arabia

A Jordanian F-16 fighter jet crashed in southern Saudi Arabia, reportedly due to a “technical error”, according to a Saudi-led Arab military coalition in which the aircraft had been taking part.

“The pilot survived the crash and is in good health,”  read a statement issued by the coalition today.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Najran region near the border with Yemen.

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Yemen has remained wracked by conflict since 2014, when the Shia Houthi militia and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh overran capital Sanaa and other parts of the country.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched an extensive air campaign – to which Jordan contributed six F-16s – aimed at reversing Houthi military gains and shoring up Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.