An Indonesian F-16 fighter jet burst into flames as it was about to take off in Jakarta today, but the pilot escaped unhurt, a military spokesperson said.

The aircraft was one several F-16 planes that arrived from the United States last year, said Major-General Fuad Basya.

“The plane was about to take off when the pilot saw a big fire on the back of the jet,” Fuad said. “The pilot stopped the plane and jumped out but the fire could not be put out.”

In 2012, the United States announced that it was giving 24 second-hand F-16s to allow Indonesia a much-needed capability to protect its airspace.

Indonesia said it would have to spend US$750 million to upgrade them.

- dpa