Military L-39 crashes but pilots escape

Two Czech Army pilots ejected to safety on Thursday after their L-39 jet’s engine lost power above the Třebíc area. Before exiting the plane, the pilots were able to navigate the aircraft to an uninhabited zone to ensure the crash would not put additional lives at risk. A military base spokesman told the Czech news agency that a military rescue helicopter was quickly dispatched to the site of the accident to recover the pilots. Neither suffered injury. Some residents nearby, who heard the sound of the crash, also called for help and tried to provide assistance. Officials will investigate possible causes behind the crash; a spokeswoman also confirmed that the head of the General Staff, General Vlastimil Picek, would also travel to the scene.