Warplanes collide during training mission

Pilots safe after ejecting, says defence ministry

Qatar is home to the massive Al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts the US Central Command's forward headquarters (HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Two warplanes have collided in Qatar during a training mission, the country’s defence ministry has said.

It said the pilots were safe after ejecting from the aircraft.

The ministry did not identify the type of planes involved in the collision.

“During a training flight a collision occurred between two training planes and the pilots were able to safely get out by using the ejection seat,” a statement on the ministry’s Twitter account said.

Qatar is home to the massive Al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts the US Central Command’s forward headquarters and thousands of American troops.

Lt Col Christine D Millette of the US Air Force Central Command said American officials were “aware of the Qatari midair collision, but we have not been asked for support at this time”.

Qatar, a small nation on the Arabian Peninsula, has been targeted by a four-nation boycott for over two years now over a political dispute.