A Republic of Singapore Air Force Weapon Systems Officer was injured in yesterday's crash of a U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Lieutenant (LTA) Lu, Zhen Yang Ephraim was undergoing a routine training flight and was in the backseat of a US Navy T-45C Goshawk training jet piloted by a U.S. Navy instructor pilot when it crash landed. Both LTA Lu and the USN IP were injured in the crash and are recovering in hospital.
According to the statement from Singapore's Ministry of Defence, LTA Lu was on a Weapon Systems Officer (Fighter) Course conducted by the US Navy. The RSAF has a number of training arrangements in the United States operating both their own aircraft, as well as airframe hours leased from U.S. Air Force and Navy assets.