Dutch F-16 pilot killed in crash in Afghanistan

AMSTERDAM, Aug 31 (Reuters) A Dutch pilot died today when his F-16 fighter plane crashed in southern Afghanistan, apparently in an accident, the defence ministry said.

''The plane was flying at a great height when the accident occurred, which means it can be ruled out that the craft was shot down. We therefore assume it was an accident,'' the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the plane crashed in the province of Ghazni, where it was supporting NATO peacekeeping troops on their way to southern Afghanistan where they took over from a US-led force last month.

The plane was found by a US rescue team and the Dutch air force has launched an investigation into the accident, the ministry said.

The 29-year-old pilot is the third Dutchman to die in Afghanistan, after two were among 12 killed in a helicopter accident in July.

Afghanistan is going through the bloodiest phase of violence since US and Afghan opposition troops overthrew the Taliban in late 2001.

About 2,000 people have been killed since January, most of them militants but including more than 90 foreign troops.

REUTERS AB VV2249