Moroccan F-16 fighter jet missing in Yemen

Morocco has lost of of its F-16 fighter jets

(Image credit: CC by: Jerry Gunner)

published 11 May 2015

On Monday, Morocco's Royal Armed Forces said that one of its F-16 fighter jets went missing over Yemen at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, while taking part in a Saudi-led air campaign against the Houthi rebels. A pilot in the same squadron said he couldn't tell if the pilot in the missing plane ejected, according to Morocco's state MAP news agency.

Earlier Sunday, the Houtis agreed to a Saudi-proposed ceasefire, but it isn't scheduled to start until Tuesday, and the Saudi coalition was bombing parts of Yemen on Sunday. Morocco has six F-16s based in the United Arab Emirates, and this is their first mission since the North African nation purchased them from the U.S. in 2011.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.