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.
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.
Smoke rises after a Greek F-16 aircraft which crashed at the
Los Llanos air base in Albacete, eastern Spain (26 January 2015)
It was not immediately clear how many planes were damaged on
the ground
The plane crashed at about 15:30 (14:30 GMT) at the base 260
km (160 miles) south-east of Madrid.
Emergency crews extinguished the fire and were assessing how
much damage had been done to other planes involved in the Nato exercise, the
ministry added.
Aviation analyst Sean it was difficult to imagine how the
accident had occurred because the runway where the aircraft was taking off is
about 1,000 ft (305 m) away from where the crash apparently took place.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he was
deeply saddened by the crash.
This is a tragedy which affects the whole Nato family,"
he said. "I express my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones and the
nations of those who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to the
injured."
Spanish officials said the jet had been participating in a
Nato training exercise called the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP).
The TLP is not part of the Nato structure but is an
organisation formed under an agreement between 10 Nato nations whose aim is to
increase the effectiveness of allied air forces through the development of
leadership skills.
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