Symbolic? Greek F-16 crashes into NATO base in Spain - 10 dead

The crash scene at Albacete air base today

Ten people have died in a fighter jet crash at an air base in central Spain, the defence ministry says.

The Greek F-16 jet "lost power" during take-off, crashing into other planes and exploding at Los Llanos airbase in Albacete, the ministry said.

One of the pilots performed a wrong manoeuvre during take-off, according to local media. Both pilots were killed.

One French person was among those killed and five others were injured, France's defence ministry confirmed.

In a statement (in French), the ministry said French jets were stationed at the base.

Late on Monday evening, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said eight French personnel and two Greeks had been killed.

Contacted by BBC News, the French air force said it could neither confirm nor deny the information given by Mr Rajoy for the time being.

Reports suggest that many of the injured are Italians while details of the other fatalities have not been given.

Personnel from the US, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the UK are said to be stationed at the base.

Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.

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