Air Force of Zimbabwe K-8 Crash

A Hongdu JL-8 (K-8) jet trainer of the Air Force of Zimbabwe crashed near Gweru in Midlands Province, killing the pilot. Zimbabwe operates a modest fleet of Chinese-supplied K-8s used for advanced training and light attack, and the type is one of the few combat-capable aircraft the air force can keep serviceable. Zimbabwe suffered a second fatal loss of a Chinese-built jet near Gweru later the same year when a J-7 caught fire in flight.