A K-8 crashes in Venezuela, 2 on board eject and survive

Military plane crashes in Venezuela, 2 on board eject and survive

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By The Associated Press (CP)
CARACAS, Venezuela — A Chinese-made K-8 military plane crashed in Venezuela during a training flight Wednesday, but officials said both people on board ejected and survived.

One fractured his hip and will undergo surgery, air force commander Maj. Gen. Jorge Arevalo Oropeza said. A flight instructor also on board was not hurt.

The plane crashed Wednesday morning on the outskirts of Barquisimeto in western Lara state, local emergency management director Hector Vargas told TV channel Globovision.

Arevalo blamed engine failure and said a panel will investigate the exact cause of the crash, together with a team of Chinese investigators.

Venezuela received an initial shipment of six K-8s earlier this year, and President Hugo Chavez said last month that he has signed off on spending $82 million to buy 18 more of the trainer and light attack jets.

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