A South Africa Air Force (SAAF) Impala Mk2 fighter trainer crashed with the pilot ejecting safely, a spokesperson said on Monday.

The SAAF's captain Ronald Maseko's said the aircraft was from 85 Combat Flying School, based at Hoedspruit.

It crashed near the town shortly after take-off. A board of inquiry has been convened to probe the incident. The plane was attempting to make an emergency landing on the usually busy N4 highway at the time of the accident.

It is the fifth crash involving the Italian-designed, South African-assembled type since 1999. The entire Impala fleet was grounded in November 2003 after a crash that claimed the lives of two pilots.

SAAF chief Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano earlier this year said that crash was the result of an engine failure.

The Impalas were acquired as lead-in fighter trainers (Lifts) and for light attack duties from the early 1960s.

They are scheduled for retirement at the end of this year when they will be replaced by 25 BAE Systems Hawk Lifts.

Source: Xinhua