4 killed as military aircraft crashes in Egypt

Cairo, Aug 13: At least four crew members were killed and two others injured today when a military aircraft crashed due to a technical problem during an operation against militants in southwestern Egypt, the army said.

During the mission, the military forces destroyed four vehicles and seized five others belong to militants in the south east of Siwa oasis, the army said in a statement.

The aircraft was in a mission fighting militants in the area when it crashed due to a technical problem, it said. Egypt has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January, 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.

Over 600 security personnel have been reported killed since then.

PTI