Pentagon Comments on Ukraine's First F-16 Loss Reports

The Pentagon has not commented on reports that Ukraine has lost its first F-16 fighter jet, urging reporters to direct such questions to Kyiv. An official from the U.S. Department of Defense told a TASS correspondent, "We ask you to contact the Ukrainian authorities regarding this issue."

The Wall Street Journal reported on August 29 that the F-16, which had been transferred to Ukraine, crashed on August 26. On the same day, the Russian Armed Forces launched massive strikes against Ukrainian targets.

An anonymous American official indicated that the possible cause for the crash of the first F-16 in Ukraine could be pilot error.